‘That was not the real me,’ killer tells victim’s mother

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This article was published 02/04/2021 (1961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two years after Phyllis Pascal stabbed her Gilbert Park neighbour Lisa Marie Kubica to death in an alcohol-fuelled rage, an explanation remains as elusive as it did the day she died.

“I want to know why she did this to my daughter,” Sherry Kubica wrote in a victim impact statement read out in court for Pascal’s sentencing Thursday. Lisa Marie’s five children “don’t understand why their mother got taken away so soon.”

Pascal, 47, who court heard had no prior criminal record for violence, offered no explanation in a brief apology to Kubica, seated in the court gallery.

“I want you to know that was not the real me that night,” she said, sobbing. “I am really sorry… I wish I could take it back.”

Pascal was originally charged with second-degree murder for the December 2018 killing, but she agreed to admit to manslaughter in a plea bargain that came with a recommended 18-year prison sentence.

“This was as close to a murder as one could get without being a murder,” Crown attorney Shane Smith told Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Chris Martin, who went on to impose the recommended sentence.

Pascal attacked Kubica, 38, who court heard was a friend, at her Tyndall Avenue home, stabbing her 38 times, including 22 times in the head and neck. Pascal, who was arrested a short time later at her home, suffered no injuries, Smith said.

“It was a horrific, brutal and senseless attack,” he said.

Court heard issues of intoxication, provocation and possible charter breaches related to Pascal’s arrest were considered in reaching a plea deal.

According to an agreed statement of facts provided to court, Pascal and Kubica had been drinking together earlier in the day, with Pascal also consuming Xanax — a medication prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders — when later that evening Pascal visited Kubica’s home and the two got into an argument over “personal property” Pascal wanted to retrieve. A physical altercation, “initiated by Kubica” followed, at which point Pascal repeatedly stabbed Kubica and fled.

Police arrested Pascal at her Chudley Avenue home, blood on her face, hands and pants, a bloody knife sitting on her kitchen table.

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like I’m a serial killer,” Pascal told arresting officers, according to the agreed statement of facts.

In a subsequent police interview, Pascal said she had six to eight beers that day and “blacked out” at the time of the stabbing.

“Alcohol was involved, but beyond that I’m not going to offer any excuses,” defence lawyer Bruce Bonney told court.

A pre-sentence report detailed Pascal’s personal history, including an upbringing stained by violence, sexual and substance abuse and residential school involvement.

Letters of support provided to court described her as a loving mother and a respectful and generous friend, a stark contrast to the woman who committed such an “exceptionally vicious crime,” Martin said.

“There is just no question there are some demons lurking underneath the surface in terms of her upbringing and some of the things that occurred to her in her life,” Martin said. “Some of these things came to a boil on the day in question and the victim just happened to be in the wrong place and some trigger happened between the two of them.”

Pascal received credit for time already served, reducing her remaining sentence to 14 1/2 years.

Pascal was subject to an eviction order by Manitoba Housing in the months prior to Kubica’s slaying, but the eviction was dropped after area MLA Cindy Lamoureux’s office intervened on her behalf, the Free Press previously reported. Lamoureux is the Liberal MLA for Burrows, which includes Gilbert Park.

Pascal was investigated by Manitoba Justice under The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act after receiving at least one complaint of “chronic unlawful activity” at her residence. Citing privacy concerns, the provincial government would not verify the investigation occurred, but it was confirmed by sources with knowledge of the situation.

Sherry Kubica told the Free Press at the time she was “very upset” the eviction order was halted.

“I just find that unbelievable. I’m at a loss for words. I think they should have had her out of there. I think it wouldn’t have happened,” she said.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca