The common-law partner of the Nova Scotia man who committed the worst mass shooting in Canadian history this April has launched a legal claim against his estate.
A 51-year-old denturist from Dartmouth killed 22 people during a rampage that began in Portapique, Colchester County, where he also owned properties, on the night of April 18 and ended 13 hours later, when he was shot and killed by police at the Irving Big Stop in Enfield.
The woman, whom The Chronicle Herald is not naming, was the first person attacked by the gunman but managed to get away. She hid in the woods while her partner killed neighbours and burned numerous properties, including his own.
She emerged from the woods the next morning and contacted police to tell them that her spouse was driving a replica RCMP cruiser and had several guns.
The woman filed notice of her lawsuit in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax on Wednesday.
In a statement of claim, the resident of Halifax Regional Municipality says she and the shooter were in a common-law relationship “over the course of many years through to and including April 19, 2020.”
She said they were together at his property in Portapique on April 18 when he perpetrated an assault and battery on her and falsely imprisoned her.
“The plaintiff states that as a result of the actions of (her spouse), she has suffered physical, emotional and psychological injuries and trauma,” the statement of claim says.
She is seeking damages for assault, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of mental suffering.
Peter Rumscheidt, the woman's lawyer, said Thursday he would not be commenting to media about the claim.
In his last will and testament, the killer named his common-law spouse executor of his estate, which had been valued at about $1.2 million before the rampage. But she filed documents in probate court in May renouncing her status as executor.
Her application to be removed as executor was approved by the court in June, turning the assets over to the public trustee, which will pay any debts and outstanding taxes.
A proposed class-action lawsuit against the shooter’s estate was filed in May on behalf of the families of those who were killed or injured.
