Man accused of attacking girlfriend with acid appears in court

MONTREAL – A man who allegedly threw acid at his girlfriend following a domestic dispute appeared in court today for a bail hearing that was later postponed.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nicolas Stefanatos was in court near Montreal for a bail hearing after allegedly dousing his girlfriend, Tanya St-Arnauld, with a corrosive cleaning product.

Police believe they have identified the substance used in the alleged attack but are awaiting laboratory results to release specifics.

“It’s a house cleaning product, a bit like Drano or something,” said Const. Martin Simard of the Longueuil police.

The bail hearing was postponed to Sept. 12. Stefanatos faces three charges including aggravated assault, for which the maximum sentence is 14 years.

St-Arnauld is at a Montreal hospital with burns covering 70 per cent of her body. Her face is wrapped in bandages. She has been woken from a medically induced coma and has been able to communicate to some members of her family.

Her injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Police say that after the couple spent an evening with friends, a dispute erupted between Stefanatos and St-Arnauld.

She was allegedly first splattered in ketchup and mustard, then she left the couple’s apartment for a fewminutes to see friends. The more serious attack allegedly occurred upon her return.

Investigators plan speak to St-Arnauld next week.