Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Knife-wielding woman receives four-month sentence for attacking security guard

Jan 6, 2025 | 3:20 PM

Nearly a month after receiving a 4.5 year sentence for manslaughter, Francine Ballantyne returned to court to resolve the remainder of her matters.

On Monday, guilty pleas were entered at Prince Albert Provincial Court to charges related to assault with a weapon, providing a false name, and breach of a probation order.

Ballantyne appeared by video from a federal institution, however for the greater part of the hearing she remained out of view of the camera; and on two different occasions while the facts were being read, was overheard laughing.

On the night of Oct. 23, 2024, police were called to an address on 17th St. W. and were informed by a complainant Ballantyne had been there and assaulted them with a machete. Ballantyne fled the scene on foot, and ran across a nearby school playground.

A picture taken on Dec. 9, 2024, when Ballantyne was escorted from Court of King’s Bench. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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The next incident involving Ballantyne occurred on Nov. 15. In the early morning hours, police were called to South Hill Lodge and were informed by a security guard a highly intoxicated woman they had kicked out three times for bothering guests, had responded by hitting the guard with a large knife on the forearm.

To defend himself, the guard used a caution “wet floor” sign as a shield.

When she was later located by police, Ballantyne gave a false name. Ballantyne had been out on bail since the previous January and the conditions included a 24-hour curfew.

Noting Ballantyne’s criminal record which includes both violence and a significant number of failure to complying with court orders, Crown Prosecutor Doug Howell explained that at the time of last month’s sentencing for manslaughter, an agreement was made that the conviction stemming from the remaining charges would run concurrently, meaning no additional time in jail.

For the assault charge, Ballantyne received 120 days and 30 days for each of the breach charges.

When asked in court if she had anything to say, Ballantyne replied “no thanks.”

Her legal aid lawyer Estelle Hjertaas noted her client’s desire to just get everything done.

Ballantyne’s manslaughter conviction was in relation to the death of Doris Broussie, who in August, 2021 was attacked outside the Fuel Stop bar.

Her lawyer at the time explained there was an issue with addictions, and stated his client had no idea why she attacked Broussie. With credit for time spent in pre-sentence custody (945 days), Ballantyne had roughly two years left to serve.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell