Trial in St. Catharines vicious attack

A trial started Monday for the man charged in a vicious attack that left a St. Catharines mother of two with burns to 60 per cent of her body. 51-year old Mark Borel is charged with trying to kill the woman he was having an affair with. Some of the details are graphic — and may not be suitable for all viewers

Mark Borel is accused of trying to kill the woman with whom he was having an affair. The woman cannot be identified because of a publication ban.

But Monday in court that woman told the jury she had been trying to break off their relationship. On July 23rd, 2011 she testified she met Borel in the parking lot of the Rockway Community Centre in Lincoln. When she walked over to his car, she says he threw gasoline on her and then set her ablaze with a match.

The victim told the court, her hands were black, her skin peeling off. There was blood everywhere. Sixty per cent of her body was burned. She’s had 14 surgeries and spent months in the hospital.

Both Borel and the victim were married. They began their affair about a year before the attack. When the victim’s husband found out the relationship started to go sour.

The relationship was marred by arguments, jealousy, abusive and controlling behavior. She described one encounter with Borel in a Lundy’s Lane hotel. She said he became angry that she was talking to other men.

She says he put a pillow over her head. She couldn’t breathe.

The victim became pregnant with Borel’s child and had an abortion. The victim had been receiving a litany of text messages prior to being burned. One message told her to ‘watch her back’. Another Facebook message said ‘F*** you, baby killer’.

Mark Borel has been in custody since his arrest days after the attack. The trial continues Tuesday.