A Vancouver woman initially charged with attempted murder of a romantic partner has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and has been handed a two-year conditional sentence and two years’ probation.
Rosemary Andrea Halldorson, 61, pleaded guilty July 12 before Vancouver Provincial Court Associate Chief Judge Paul Dohm. She had initially been charged with attempted murder, assault, aggravated assault and uttering a threat.
In his victim impact statement, the man expressed his terror.
“I was literally making my peace with God,” said the man, whose identity is covered by a publication ban. “Then, the stabbing started.”
Partner had 'no idea she was mentally ill'
Halldorson's former male partner said the couple used to spend a lot of time together, and had common interests like politics and sports.
He said he was captivated by Halldorson, saying the relationship later became the “darkest part of my entire life.”
“I had no idea she was mentally ill,” he said.
On the day of the Feb. 19, 2023 incident, however, the man said Halldorson was “totally manic” and had created a barricade out of furniture in her apartment before the attack.
“I put my hand up. Then she cut my pinky finger,” he said. “I tried to grab the knife. There was blood flowing all over my body.”
Paranoia amplified by 'stressful, abusive' relationship
In July 2023, defence lawyer Andrew Nelson told another judge that the woman was pleading not guilty to all charges.
On Nov. 1, Nelson asked that the court consider Halldorson not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.
The defence lawyer said that, on the date of the offence, the man had called Halldorson 10 times and then gained access to her building.
Nelson said Halldorson’s stress and paranoia was “amplified by the stress and abuse in the relationship.”
“A confluence of factors led to her mental illness taking over at the time of these events,” Nelson said.
At one point, she was being treated for a bipolar disorder, but was later discovered to have a toxicity with lithium, a common bipolar medication.
The lawyer said Halldorson has gone to great lengths to deal with her mental health issues.
In passing sentence, the judge said that if the woman does not abide by sentence conditions, she “will do jail time.”
“I have strong confidence she will continue to do well in the community,” said Vancouver Provincial Court Judge James Sutherland.
