Ottawa

Woman charged with 2nd-degree murder in Vanier stabbing

A 58-year-old woman is being charged with second-degree murder after a man was stabbed to death in Vanier on Monday night.

Elianne Assinewai, 58, accused of killing 50-year-old Jean Cowie

 A police vehicle on a residential city street at dawn.
Ottawa first responders were called to Ste. Monique Street in the city's central neighbourhood of Vanier before 8 p.m. Oct. 28, 2024. (Alexandra Angers/Radio-Canada)

A 58-year-old woman is being charged with second-degree murder after a man was stabbed to death in Vanier on Monday night.

Ottawa police said on social media they were called to a reported stabbing on Ste. Monique Street shortly before 8 p.m.

Paramedics told CBC a man was stabbed and critically injured. Police said he later died and have identified him as 50-year-old Jean Cowie of Ottawa.

Elianne Assinewai, 58 and also from Ottawa, is being charged with second-degree murder for his death, police said Tuesday.

She appeared in court via telelink on Tuesday. She's due back in court on Nov. 6 and remains in custody. 

Police and paramedic vehicles on a residential city street at night.
The victim of the stabbing and name of the accused were released by Ottawa police on Thursday afternoon. (Glen Nevins)

The executive director of an Ottawa-based housing provider told CBC there was an incident in one of its units and that its tenant, who was not the victim, has been there since March.

Marc Maracle of Gignul Non-Profit Housing Corporation said leadership was making arrangements for its wellness workers to reach out to other tenants in the building.

The scene is about three kilometres east of the city core.

With files from Joseph Tunney and Nathan Fung