Brantford, Ontario – A man with a history of violent assaults on women, originally from Sault Ste. Marie, has been declared a long-term offender following his sentencing in a Toronto court. Brendan Bananish, 37, was convicted of repeatedly stabbing the mother of four of his children in a Toronto motel room in 2020, leaving her critically injured.
The victim took 12 hours to make her way to a hallway where she was discovered and taken to the hospital. She endured 21 days in the hospital with severe injuries, including 11 knife wounds, two spinal fractures, and a chest injury. Justice Andrew Pinto, in his decision, noted the escalating brutality and violence of Bananish’s offenses in 2019 and 2020.
Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Bananish moved to Brantford as a teenager, where he developed a pattern of heavy drinking that began at the age of 12. He engaged in drug use and criminal activities, accumulating numerous assault charges and breaches of court orders.
In a disturbing incident in 2019, Bananish was found in possession of an illegally modified semi-automatic rifle after a violent altercation with his partner. Despite orders to stay away from his victim, he later moved into her home. The culmination of his violent behavior occurred in a Toronto hotel room, where he attacked the woman with a knife, believing she had harmed his children.
Following a psychiatric evaluation that suggested a high risk of re-offending, Bananish was sentenced to seven years and three months in custody as a long-term offender. This designation will extend his supervision for up to 10 years after release from custody. With credit for time already served, he will spend an additional 24 months in a federal penitentiary.
Throughout the court proceedings, Bananish’s history of violence against intimate partners was thoroughly examined, leading to the decision to designate him as a long-term offender. This designation will remain in place for the next eight years, emphasizing the serious nature of his crimes and the need for continued monitoring.