Halifax optometrist's murder leaves co-workers shaken as killer gets life sentence
Cymon Cormier, 28, was found guilty of first-degree murder in June, after a judge rejected his defence that he was not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder (NCRMD).
The attack, which was described in Justice Christa M. Brothers's decision as 'frenzied' and 'relentless,' claimed the life of 55-year-old Tony Nader, an optometrist who had at one time been in a relationship with Cormier's mother.
The court previously heard how Nader was assisting a customer on Dec. 30, 2021, at a Brunswick Street optometry office when Cormier walked in and began stabbing him.
Story continues below advertisement
'Something that nobody could have anticipated, could have seen coming. And it really had a profound impact on everyone, ' said Nova Scotia Crown attorney, Scott Morrison.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Nader's former co-worker, Victoria Peterson, recounted the attack in her victim impact statement.
She wrote that even now, the sound of sirens still gives her chills as she remembers that morning when she stood between Nader and the front door, waiting for help to arrive.
Nader later died in hospital.
View image in full screen
Tony Nader, 55, was fatally stabbed at work at an optometry office in Halifax in December 2021. He is being remembered by friends and family as a devoted family man who loved music. Dominic Nader/Facebook
She wrote that Nader will always be remembered as 'that rare type of person who brought warmth to everyone he encountered.'
'I can't imagine someone less deserving of what happened to him,' she added.
Story continues below advertisement
The court heard how Nader was a proud husband and father of two, who was described by friends as kind, compassionate and witty.
He was also a lifelong musician and had worked at Insight Optometry for 25 years.
'I think Mr. Cormier offered a few different justifications for what he did that day, what was motivating him,' said Morrison.
'But in terms of what the bottom-line motivation was for Mr. Cormier — I think that will be almost impossible to ever prove.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
14 minutes ago
- Global News
Family outraged as Montreal woman's killer gets weekday prison release
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The family of a young Montreal woman brutally murdered nearly two decades ago is furious that her killer is now allowed to leave prison five days per week. Sebastien Simon was convicted of first-degree murder after stabbing Brigitte Serre 72 times nearly two decades ago. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Now, nearly twenty years into his sentence, he's gaining more and more freedom. As Global's Dan Spector reports, that does not sit well with Serre's family. Watch the video above for the full story.
Toronto Star
5 hours ago
- Toronto Star
NYPD officer killed in Manhattan office shooting to be laid to rest
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer who was among the four people shot and killed by a gunman during a rampage at a Manhattan office tower will be laid to rest Thursday. Officer Didarul Islam, 36, was fatally shot Monday in a midtown building housing the National Football League's headquarters. A security guard, real estate firm employee and investment firm executive were also killed.
Global News
8 hours ago
- Global News
‘Garbage everywhere': Woman calls out partying campers at Alouette Lake
A B.C. woman is speaking out about etiquette and enforcement, after recording a video of shocking backcountry behaviour. Kristena Owen and a group of friends captured the scene over the weekend, after paddleboarding to one of the East Beach camping sites on Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Owen said the group had no illusions they would be alone in unspoiled nature, but said what they encountered went far beyond simply sharing a campground with strangers. The 18-site backcountry camp spot, she said, was instead overrun by a group of 60 to 80 partiers. 2:02 B.C. Day campers shamed online for leaving trash near Harrison Lake 'They had music blasting like really, really loud. There was garbage everywhere,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'Their music was going all day long, and just like all day long from the boat launch, they were bringing groups of people to their kind of gathering.' Owen said the rowdy crowd ignored designated campsites and had tents all over the beach and blocking the trails to the outhouses and the bearproof food caches. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They also weren't using those food caches, she said, leaving coolers, trash, dirty dishes and Timbits out overnight. At one point, she said a group of girls from the crowd came to tell her a bear had been through their campsite — something she said was no surprise. 'Unless you are actively cooking and eating, your camp is supposed to be clean. Your garbage is supposed to be put away. You can't leave things out,' she said. 'They probably had, that you could count in the videos, I want to say 12 coolers, and I'm sure there were more that we didn't see. They had bags of garbage. What you can actually see in the video is an improvement from what it was there before.' According to Owen, things got worse overnight when the revellers set off a bear banger in contravention of the fire ban, and cranked up a karaoke machine to full volume at 12:30 a.m. Story continues below advertisement She said when she went to ask them to turn the music down, the group was less than friendly. 1:52 Show Your Love campaign: Tofino and Ucluelet urge visitors to respect environment 'I begged. I was like, 'Please you guys like you're not the only people here, there are 18 sites, there are children trying to sleep, like this is incredibly unfair, unkind,' and they laughed at me and they mocked me and they said, 'Oh you know maybe next time you go camp on the other side of the lake,'' she said. Owen said her group was determined not to let the partying ruin their trip. But when they returned to an area with phone service, they reported the group to the RCMP and conservation officers. BC Parks said it deployed rangers to the beach on Monday to patrol and conduct a cleanup, and that it will continue to monitor the site and increase its presence. Story continues below advertisement 'We remind all backcountry users of their obligation to recreate responsibly,' it said, referring would-be campers to BC Parks' responsible recreation guidelines. 'In shared spaces, we ask all visitors to act with courtesy and consideration towards others enjoying the park.' While the site has since been cleaned up, frustration remains. Owen said she hopes going public about the incident will lead to both better enforcement and etiquette from other campers in the backcountry. 'I wouldn't say it ruined our trip, but it made us really mad, and … we were incensed at the disrespect for nature and the land, but also, you're not the only people here,' she said. 'And so to hear that the officers are going to be or the rangers are going be regularly monitoring, watching the area now, I thought that's a win.'
