A Quebec Court of Appeal reduced Macdala Monfiston's sentence for a brutal assault, including biting a victim’s forehead outside a bar in Laval on December 27, 2022, from four years to just under two years due to concerns over potential deportation and the impact on her children. The original sentencing judge was criticized by the appellate court for not considering these factors, which align with Canadian legal precedents requiring judges to account for "collateral immigration consequences" of criminal sentences. Monfiston is a permanent resident born in Montreal to Haitian parents but never obtained Canadian citizenship.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In December 2022, Macdala Monfiston, a Haitian woman in her late thirties living in Montreal, Quebec, viciously attacked an unnamed victim outside a bar in Laval, biting her forehead and leaving a permanent scar. In 2025, Monfiston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was initially sentenced by the Court of Quebec to four years in prison.
However, on Monday, Quebec Court of Appeal judges Geneviève Marcotte, Suzanne Gagné, and Christine Baudouin significantly reduced her sentence. The appeal court criticized the original ruling for not considering potential consequences like deportation or loss of legal rights, including the impact on Monfiston's dependent children.
This decision highlights the complexities involved in balancing justice with humanitarian concerns, especially regarding immigration status and family impacts.
Written for “Haitian Face-Biter Sentence Reduced” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A Haitian woman who bit a stranger's forehead during a vicious attack was given a reduced sentence by judges to avoid her deportation from Canada.
asserted
who → bite → Canada
Macdala Monfiston, then 37, brutally attacked a woman outside a bar in Laval, Quebec on December 27, 2022, leaving the unnamed victim with a permanent scar on her face.
asserted
Monfiston → attack → face
The bite left a wound 'several centimetres long, necessitating repeated treatments and leaving a prominent scar,' according to court records.
uncertain
bite → leave → records
Monfiston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in 2025 and was sentenced to four years in prison by a Court of Quebec judge.
However, Quebec Court of Appeal judges Geneviève Marcotte, Suzanne Gagné and Christine Baudouin drastically reduced her punishment in a new ruling on Monday.
asserted
Marcotte → plead → Monday
The justices also shamed the lower court for its ruling for not considering the repercussions Monfiston would have to deal with.
asserted
Monfiston → sham → repercussions
'The judge does not address the consequences the appellant faces... relating to possible deportation and the loss of her right of appeal, nor does she examine the extent of the repercussions that a four-year prison sentence would have on her dependent children,' the Quebec Court of Appeal said.
asserted
Court → address → Appeal
The justices also noted that Monfiston's sentence would have a greater impact on her 'than on other offenders who might have committed similar acts.
uncertain
who → note → acts
Macdala Monfiston, then 37, brutally attacked a woman outside a bar in Laval
Shocking footage of the attack shows Monfiston standing over the victim
During the attack the victim, who has requested anonymity, was bitten leaving a permanent scar on her forehead
Her sentence was reduced to two years less a day of conditional imprisonment served in the community, meaning she will do no time in prison, as her first 18 months will be under house arrest and the roughly six remaining months will be under a nighttime curfew.
Canadian legal precedents require judges to consider the 'collateral immigration consequences' of a criminal sentence when determining an appropriate sentence, according to the National Post.
uncertain
precedents → attack → Post
Monfiston is a Canadian permanent resident born to parents of Haitian origin who came to Montreal from the US at age two and has never obtained Canadian citizenship.
asserted
who → bear → citizenship
Disturbing footage showed her viciously attack her victim outside the bar on a snowy night as bystanders tried to intervene.
asserted
bystanders → show → night
However, the Good Samaritans were held back by Monfiston's then-partner, Majd Mounsef, as she could be seen repeatedly kicking and punching the woman's body before straddling her and biting her face.
uncertain
she → hold → face
The victim, who asked not to be identified due to fear of her attacker, told Le Journal de Montréal that she thought she was going to die during the beating.
asserted
she → ask → beating
Monfiston is a Canadian permanent resident born to parents of Haitian origin who came to Montreal from the US at age two and has never obtained Canadian citizenship
'
asserted
who → bear → citizenship
I begged her to let me go.
asserted
me → beg → her
I told her I wanted to see my children again,' said the woman.
asserted
woman → tell → children
She added that people assume that she was bitten by an animal but are shocked to hear it was a person.
asserted
it → add → animal
'The day she was incarcerated, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders,' said the victim.
asserted
victim → incarcerate → shoulders
'I was going to work and thinking, "Wow, I don't have to worry about her anymore."
asserted
I → go → her
She said she lives in fear that she might cross paths with Monfiston again.
uncertain
she → say → Monfiston
Court records show that Monfiston dropped out of school after completing her second year of secondary school and was convicted of theft in 2012 and obstructing police in 2014.
asserted
Monfiston → show → 2014
She was also convicted of a drug possession charge in 2024.
asserted
She → convict → 2024
Judges described Monfiston as having been raised in a 'dysfunctional, deprived and violent' family environment.
asserted
Judges → describe → environment
The appeal court's decision also considered the fact that Monfiston is a single mother of five children, which also factored into the decision.
asserted
which → consider → decision
Mounsef had also been charged in connection with the attack, but he died earlier that year, before sentencing.
asserted
he → charge → sentencing
The Aporia
