A sentencing hearing for a former City of Ottawa lawyer who admitted to vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument is scheduled for Monday morning, more than five months after his arrest.
Details of the Vandalism Incident
On June 9, 2025, the solemn memorial at 1918 Chaudière Crossing in Ottawa was defaced. The act was discovered by residents who found the words "FEED ME" scrawled in red paint across the monument. Surveillance footage from the early morning hours played a crucial role in the investigation.
Court documents reveal that cameras captured Iain Aspenlieder arriving at the site on a bicycle at 2:59 a.m. He was carrying bags containing paint cans. The video evidence showed him throwing the cans at the monument and using a paintbrush to write the message. He fled the scene by 3:08 a.m., leaving behind a red handprint that he later admitted was his.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Aspenlieder was arrested on June 27 and initially faced charges of mischief to a war monument, mischief exceeding $5,000, and harassment by threatening conduct. He ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of mischief for defacing the memorial. His lawyer, Michael Spratt, confirmed the plea, and Aspenlieder was released on bail pending his sentencing.
At the time of his arrest, police noted he was wearing a shirt with red paint on it, which Aspenlieder himself called "incriminating evidence." Officers also seized a backpack, a Palestinian flag, a floral cap, and running shoes, all stained with red paint.
Motivation and Aftermath
During a bail hearing on June 28, the court learned that Aspenlieder was participating in a hunger strike. He stated his strike would continue until Prime Minister Mark Carney labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" who was "complicit in a genocide."
Justice of the Peace Stephen Louis Dibblee commented that the painted message "FEED ME" lacked context but appeared to be Aspenlieder's "radical means of voicing his position on the (Israel-Palestinian) conflict." Aspenlieder accepted responsibility for his actions but refused to elaborate on his beliefs or disclose the location of the paintbrush used in the crime. He also denied having any mental health disorders.
The City of Ottawa confirmed it had terminated Aspenlieder's employment. He was working as legal counsel for the city and was on leave at the time of the incident.
The community now awaits the outcome of Monday's sentencing hearing, which will bring a judicial conclusion to a case that deeply offended many and desecrated a monument dedicated to the memory of one of history's darkest chapters.
