Vancouver, Canada — A man who inflicted serious injuries on two sisters during a May 2022 attack at an Airbnb has been sentenced to a 22-month conditional sentence by a provincial court. Judge Harbans Dhillon characterized the incident as a “brutal, violent knife attack” that left the victims “terrorized and traumatized.”
Arvin Pasha, 29, pleaded guilty to charges of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. The judge described the incident as particularly shocking, noting that the sisters were unprepared for such violence when they rented the Vancouver accommodation for a visit.
The women, ages 25 and 23 at the time, were awakened in the early morning hours when Pasha began pacing the suite with a 12-inch knife. An unforeseen confrontation escalated rapidly when he began banging on the living room window, prompting panic as the sisters attempted to escape through the hallway.
During their attempt to flee, Pasha emerged brandishing the knife and attacked one of the sisters, stabbing her multiple times. In a moment of desperation, she reportedly shouted, “What are you doing? You’re killing me,” before collapsing. Pasha then turned to the other sister, inflicting similar injuries.
Justice Dhillon highlighted the serious consequences of the attack, citing the long-term effects on the women’s mental and physical health. She stated that both are now living with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. They have also been left with significant physical scars and have found it difficult to return to work.
Urgent police intervention was required as officers arrived at the scene with their weapons drawn. Emergency medical teams transported the injured women to the hospital for treatment after providing advanced life support on-site.
Judge Dhillon noted that Pasha’s state of mind at the time was influenced by drug use, which contributed to a psychotic episode. He believed, erroneously, that the sisters were harming his pet, a situation that also led to his mother’s fear during an earlier incident involving a sharpened axe found in the residence.
Despite the severity of the offense, the judge acknowledged Pasha’s efforts to address his mental health issues since the attack. She remarked that he has maintained abstinence from psychoactive substances and has gained a clearer understanding of the link between his cannabis use and mental health challenges.
Pasha’s conditional sentence includes a 12-month curfew and 18 months of probation, emphasizing the court’s intention to balance accountability with opportunities for rehabilitation. The legal consequences reflect the court’s recognition of the grave nature of the crime while also considering the offender’s path toward improvement.