Ottawa realtor sentenced to 11 years for attack on wife
Posted Jan 14, 2016 05:15:07 AM.
Last Updated Jan 14, 2016 05:19:46 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – An Ottawa realtor found guilty of attempting to murder his wife has been sentenced to 11 years in jail.
In May of 2015, Chris Hoare was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault and choking and assault with a weapon for an attack on his wife in April of 2014.
During the trial, Hoare had testified that his wife Kristen Cote ‘dropped like a stone’ when he hit her with an aluminum baseball bat in their garage.
Hoare also told court, at that time, he had maxed out the family’s credit card, and owed the Canada Revenue Agency around $222,000. He said he wasn’t ready to reveal that debt to his wife.
On the day of the attack, Hoare testified he drove his kids to school, returned home, and took an OxyContin — something he had been doing daily at that time.
He said he then lured his wife into their garage with the promise of a surprise, before picking up his son’s baseball bat and striking her on the head with, quote, ‘half my strength…. or less.’ Hoare said he panicked when his wife didn’t fall unconscious, and struck her again, before trying to muffle her screams with a dish towel and shoe.
He told court she screamed and begged him to stop, asking him why he was attacking her. He told her, ‘we have nothing left. I have ruined us.’
He said his wife then managed to break free, open the garage door, and run for help.
The Crown has asked for 15 years in jail, while the defence had asked for seven years. With time served, Hoare has eight years and four months left on his sentence, according to the CBC.
