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Both the woman and her baby survived.

Photo by Trevor Wilhelm / Windsor Star

Ontario Court Justice Lloyd Dean was told during Carter’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday how the attack easily could have claimed the lives of both the woman and the baby she was carrying had the stab wound to the left side of her neck been in a slightly different spot.

“This was very close to life-ending,” said assistant Crown attorney Jayme Lesperance, who requested a prison sentence of between four to five years for Carter.

“He needs to be segmented from society based on the nature of this offence.”

Lesperance also noted in court how Carter had a previous criminal record that included two other assaults, an assault with a weapon and criminal harassment.

But Carter’s defence attorney Ken Marley discussed at length how his client — who has remained in custody since his arrest — struggles with his mental health.

Carter is currently in custody at a facility in London where he is receiving mental health treatment that has already made a difference in his behaviour and provided hope for eventual rehabilitation, his lawyer said.

Photo by Special to the Star / Windsor Star

Marley asked that his client not be sentenced to prison, but instead to a reformatory or institution where he can receive treatment from professionals for his mental health issues.

“I ask the court not to ignore the importance of rehabilitation — especially in light of what is already taking place (with treatment in London),” he said.

Marley requested Carter be sentenced to remain in custody for another 12 to 18 months — on top of the 258 days he has already served both in jail in Windsor and the London institution since his arrest shortly after the attack.