A Saskatchewan man has admitted to trying to kill his girlfriend during a violent 2018 assault, entering a guilty plea in a Saskatoon courtroom this week.
Guilty Plea Entered After Overturned Conviction
Cory James Smockum, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder in Saskatoon King’s Bench Court on Tuesday, January 7, 2026. The charge relates to a brutal attack on his then-girlfriend, Adrienne Lennie, in a Hanley garage in October 2018. Smockum appeared before Justice Daryl Labach via closed-circuit television from Regina, where he remains in custody.
This guilty plea comes after a complex legal journey. A jury originally convicted Smockum of attempted murder in February 2020. However, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal overturned that conviction on August 16, 2024. The appeals court ruled that the Crown improperly questioned Smockum about why he had not initially claimed self-defence to police, presenting the jury with inadmissible and prejudicial evidence.
Details of the Violent 2018 Assault
During the original trial, the Crown prosecutor described an attack fueled by a drunken, jealous rage. The court heard that Smockum beat and choked Lennie. The assault was only stopped when police, alerted by Lennie’s family, intervened. Smockum had reportedly called the family himself, stating he was going to kill Lennie.
The attack left the victim with severe injuries, including:
- Broken ribs
- A brain bleed
- Significant bruising to her neck and throat
- Black eyes
Lennie required hospitalization for eight days following the incident. Smockum admitted to punching her twice in the face and grabbing her throat but claimed he acted in self-defence after being hit with a hammer—an assertion the victim denied.
Dangerous Offender Designation Sought Again
Following Tuesday's guilty plea, the Crown filed an application to have Smockum assessed as a potential dangerous or long-term offender. The court granted the application, with the defence not objecting. This is not the first time such a designation has been pursued.
Smockum was previously declared a dangerous offender in May 2022 by Justice Grant Currie. That ruling noted a pattern of repetitive, controlled violence and an extensive criminal history featuring domestic assault, sexual assault, and assault causing bodily harm. However, that designation was automatically overturned when his attempted murder conviction was thrown out on appeal.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. The judge and legal counsel are scheduled to reconvene for a conference call on January 30, 2026, to discuss the next steps, including the dangerous offender assessment process.
