Defence asks for six more months in jail for Orillia man who stabbed stranger last summer

Warning: This article contains descriptions and images that may be disturbing and triggering to readers.

The sentencing hearing is underway for an Orillia man who pleaded guilty to stabbing a stranger last summer after he threatened to kill the man’s wife for staring at him.

Madison Quinn, 27, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault and carrying a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He struck a previous guilty plea that was entered before a different judge for the stabbing in Orillia that nearly killed father-of-four Ryan Lawes.

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The court heard submissions from the Crown and defence on how much time Quinn should spend behind bars for the attack on the night of July 20, 2025. If the defence gets its way, Quinn will be out of jail in six months. The prosecution is seeking a four-and-a-half-year sentence minus time served in pre-sentence custody.

Quinn sat in the prisoner’s box and heard from Lawes and his partner Hollee Cahill, who told the court of the trauma they have suffered since the night of the stabbing outside a motel along West Street.

They told the court about celebrating their daughter’s baby shower earlier that day, only to find themselves living a nightmare in hospital in Toronto hours later.

“What began as a joyful celebration at a baby shower ended with me being airlifted on life support,” said Lawes, who was airlifted to St Mike’s and was in hospital for three weeks fighting for his life after developing a flesh-eating infection. Lawes had been stabbed by Quinn four times in the torso with a four-inch fishing knife.

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Lawes was stabbed in front of his wife, who was 37 weeks pregnant at the time. He had come to her aid after Quinn threatened to kill her for staring at him while he was drunk and hunched over.

“Your actions have taken away my sense of safety within my own community,” Lawes explained. “When I now hear someone call for help, I am afraid to respond.”

The court heard Lawes confronted Quinn and told him to apologize to his wife before the men got into an argument. Quinn stabbed Lawes before running away.

Lawes told the court his life has been permanently altered, as he is unable to work while in need of further surgeries to treat scar tissue that has not healed in the 11 months since the attack.

Cahill told the court her family is traumatised by the consequences of Quinn’s actions that include having to pay a $5,600 ORNGE air ambulance bill while Lawes struggles to care for himself and his family.

Quinn’s lawyer, Will Caven, characterized the stabbing as “emotion poorly influenced by alcohol,” saying Quinn feared for his safety when Lawes got in his face that night. He conceded his client had about six beers to drink that night. The defence told the court Quinn “hates what he did” and is remorseful.

Quinn addressed the court and apologized to the Lawes family, telling them, “I am truly sorry for what I have done.”

Quinn is scheduled to be sentenced next week.