Pregnant mom stabbed, baby dies

MONTREAL — A newborn who was delivered by emergency C-section after its mother was stabbed multiple times died in hospital Monday, police said.

A 37-year-old man who is the woman’s partner was taken into custody several hours later, said spokesman Jean-Pierre Brabant.

Police were called to a home in the city’s Montreal North borough about 2:30 a.m. and found the woman, 33, stabbed multiple times in the upper and lower body.

The suspect was not at home when police arrived. The victim, who was eight months pregnant, was transported to hospital.

“The woman is in stable condition,” Brabant said. “Unfortunately, the baby did not survive its wounds and was pronounced dead in hospital.”

About noon Monday, the suspect reappeared and approached a police vehicle not far from the scene of the crime.

“After a brief discussion, he was arrested,” Brabant said. He was known to police. Police had made an earlier visit to the home.

About 10 p.m. Sunday night, officers responded to a domestic violence call at the couple’s residence, Brabant said.

The woman’s partner was not at home at the time, and their two children were sent to stay with a relative.

Brabant said the woman didn’t want to leave the home.

“Police made a report and strongly suggested to the woman to leave the house but she refused,” he said.

A neighbour said the woman was yelling and knocking at her door about 2:30 a.m.

“I opened my door, she was screaming,” said Noella Bernier. “I called 911. She was wounded and there was blood all over her. Blood on her stomach. She was pregnant, she told me she was in her last month.”

Brabant said police would question the man, with an arraignment on criminal charges likely today.