Parents stand by their son despite being seriously injured in stabbing
“It’s been a long journey for all of us. All three of us,” says his mother.
The parents of Stephen Rivington just watched as a judge sentenced him to jail time and now are speaking out about the night he became dangerously violent in their Qualicum Beach home.
“It’s been very traumatic absolutely but this has just never been part of our life,” says his mother Sandra Odendaal. “We have never had this kind of violence.”
In November 2015, at their Ormonde Road home, an intoxicated Rivington flew into a rage demanding more alcohol.
He attacked both his parents with a knife before stabbing himself.
His parents both underwent surgery and today, the judge said it was remarkable that Rivington survived the self-inflicted wound.
“Certainly not the norm that you would have victims of such a violent offense come forward to support the person that assaulted them,” says Crown Counsel’s Nick Barber.
“I was extremely annoyed but once I reflected and thought about it I realized it wasn’t him it was the alcohol,” says Willem Odendaal, Rivington’s Stepfather.
His mother says they visited her son for the last year and a half and that was one of the most important parts to their healing.
The judge sentenced Rivington to three years in jail. After time served it will result in another 319 days behind bars. He was also handed 2 years of probation which includes conditions about visiting his parents and alcohol consumption.
“We are looking to go forward and we’re most grateful and very pleased with the terms of his sentencing,” says his mother.
The judge noted since the stabbing, the former pharmacist and father of two daughters has pleaded guilty, shown remorse and been sober.
“He is going to be working very hard to get himself back on track so he can once again become a contributing member of society which he was,” says Sandra Odendaal.
The judge called it a senseless and vicious attack but his parents say this terrible incident may also help turn their son’s life around
Kendall Hanson
