MONTREAL — Tara Cosgrove-Pompetti treasures the quiet moments in her life – sitting on a couch, enjoying a good book.
It’s a welcome change from the sirens, the doctors, and the court hearings which have dominated her days over the last 18 months.
On August 9, 2013, the 27-year-old walked into her St-Leonard home and was attacked by her ex-boyfriend Juan-Carlos Sandoval-Candanedo.
The now 33-year-old repeatedly stabbed the victim in the staircase of her apartment 18 times, and left her for dead in a pool of blood.
The couple broke up a few weeks before the incident.
“I was stabbed 18 times, 6 times in the neck area, 4 times in the back,” says Cosgrove-Pompetti.
“I suffered a punctured lung and a punctured kidney.”
The woman spent three weeks in a coma at Montreal General Hospital.
To this day, she can’t remember any part of the near-tragic night.
“Nothing at all, it’s better that way,” she adds with a smile.
Sandoval-Candanedo was sentenced last December to 11 years in prison.
“It’s too lenient considering a second person was attacked that night too,” says Cosgrove-Pompetti.
“He asked for bail after his arrest, that shows he has no remorse at all.”
READ MORE: No bail for suspect in St. Leonard double stabbing, family calls request ‘ridiculous’
Cosgrove-Pompetti is speaking out not to criticize the justice system rather to serve as an inspiration to other women.
She urges women in problem relationships to get out and leave.
Despite seeing signs of “unstable behaviour” in her four-year relationship with Sandoval-Candanedo, she decided to stay during difficult times.
“I think we should use our judgement as best we can to make better choices,” she says.
“Juan-Carlos was a big manipulator and he would tell me everything I would want to hear.”
Melpa Kamateros from Shield of Athena, a group that advocates against domestic violence, says Cosgrove-Pompetti’s situation is one that many women have to deal with.
“There’s a lot of fear in this type of scenario, so as a result women do go back, they also go back for reasons of love,” Kamateros adds.
Cosgrove-Pompetti’s focus now is on completing her studies at McGill University and a gradual return to work.
She is an aspiring model.
Cosgrove-Pompetti says she is in a “good place” and she proudly shows her renewed pride on her back.
A new tattoo reads: “Only the strong survive.”
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