A woman from Quebec has been handed a 27-month prison sentence for throwing scalding water on a young child at the Longueuil courthouse in Quebec. The sentence was based on a joint recommendation by the Crown and defense, as agreed upon by Quebec court Judge Marc Antoine Carette. The woman, Stéphanie Borel, aged 47, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault last September for an incident that occurred on October 2, 2024.
The incident involved a 10-year-old boy who suffered second-degree burns on four percent of his body, including his face, chest, and shoulder blade. The boy, who was walking home from school with friends, took a shortcut passing by the woman’s residence. His father described how the boy arrived home screaming about being burned by boiling water.
There is a publication ban in place to protect the boy’s identity, and it was confirmed that the woman did not target the boy based on his race. The agreed statement of facts revealed that the woman, who lived near the boy’s school, was frustrated by children playing pranks on her, which led to the unfortunate incident.
During the sentencing hearing, the boy’s family expressed the impact of the incident on his life, emphasizing the need to send a clear message against violence towards children. While aggravating factors were considered, such as the risk of reoffending and the impact on the victim and his family, mitigating factors such as the defendant’s guilty plea and willingness to seek psychological help were also presented.
Borel, whose bail was revoked in October, will serve 20 months of her sentence. A family friend of the boy expressed relief that justice was served and highlighted the importance of holding individuals accountable for such cruel acts. The family is now focusing on healing and moving forward from the traumatic incident.