For more than two weeks, a Toronto courtroom has heard a narrative casting Ashleigh Pechaluk as the true killer in a brutal, nearly two-decade-old axe murder. But now, as a jury deliberates whether her former lover and convicted co-accused should get a chance at early parole, Pechaluk is breaking her long silence to defend her name.
The Brutal Crime and Divergent Verdicts
The case stems from the 2006 killing of Dennis Hoy, who was bludgeoned to death with the blunt end of an axe in an Etobicoke residence. The crime was at the centre of a love triangle involving Hoy, his longtime girlfriend Nicola Puddicombe, and her new lover, Ashleigh Pechaluk. Both women were charged with first-degree murder.
Their fates, however, diverged at trial. In 2009, a jury acquitted Ashleigh Pechaluk. Her lawyer, Peter Zaduk, stated she testified for over five days, maintaining her innocence, and the jury accepted her account. Conversely, Nicola Puddicombe was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
The "Faint Hope" Hearing and Renewed Allegations
Now 52, Puddicombe is the focus of a rare "faint hope" hearing, where she is asking a jury to allow her to apply for parole earlier than her statutory date of May 2032. She testified that she has taken responsibility and is a changed person. Notably, after years of denial, she admitted involvement just five weeks before the hearing but claimed the murder was Pechaluk's idea and that Pechaluk wielded the axe, striking Hoy six times.
During the hearing, Crown prosecutors also pointed the finger at Pechaluk, alleging she was complicit in the plot. This position has drawn fierce criticism from Pechaluk's camp. "It is disappointing that the verdict of Ashleigh’s jury has been disrespected by the Crown," Zaduk said in a statement released on her behalf. "The Crown continues to allege that Ashleigh was somehow complicit in Dennis Hoy’s murder. She was not."
Defending a Controversial Acquittal
Zaduk provided a detailed defence of Pechaluk's acquittal, addressing a controversial police interrogation. He stated that during over 20 hours of questioning, Pechaluk was denied a lawyer and subjected to coercive tactics. When officers told her one of the two women would be charged, Pechaluk, in an "emotional collapse" and wanting to protect Puddicombe, blurted out, "She didn’t do it. I did."
However, Zaduk argued this so-called confession was "worthless both in law and fact" because Pechaluk could provide no further details about the murder. The Crown at her trial never attempted to enter the statement as evidence. "In law an acquittal is equivalent to a declaration of innocence," Zaduk emphasized.
The court also heard that Puddicombe, now in minimum security, has a new girlfriend who is also serving time for murder—a fact the jury did not learn is for the killing of a child.
Moving Forward After the Spotlight
Pechaluk, who was subpoenaed but did not testify at the faint hope hearing, resents being dragged back into the spotlight. "In the 16 years since her acquittal, Ashleigh has tried to put her past behind her," her lawyer said. "She has lived a law-abiding and productive life with responsible employment."
As the jury deliberates Nicola Puddicombe's fate, the case continues to raise complex questions about guilt, justice, and the long shadows cast by a violent crime that shattered multiple lives nearly two decades ago.
