BRAMPTON — A Brampton man has been sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of a five-year-old boy in what the court described as a “merciless” and “ghastly” attack.
Dyon Smart, 35, was convicted after brutally assaulting the child in July 2018 as an act of retribution against the boy’s mother, who had asked him to leave her home. According to court evidence, Smart lured the boy—dressed in pyjamas and sneakers—outside during the night and led him into nearby woods. There, he choked the child with a rope and stomped on his head, face, and torso before leaving him for dead.
A resident reported hearing the boy’s screams of “mommy, mommy,” but Smart returned to the home, attempting to wash away evidence of the crime. The child was discovered hours later by police in critical condition. He was treated by a team of 17 specialists at SickKids and Holland Bloorview Hospital and had to relearn how to walk and talk. While he survived, the boy continues to live with a brain injury-related learning disability.
The Crown sought to have Smart declared a dangerous offender. While Justice James Stribopoulos rejected that application, he emphasized the severity of the crime, sentencing Smart to life imprisonment. Smart was also given an additional eight months for breaching recognizance, subjected to a lifetime weapons ban and DNA order, and prohibited from any contact with the boy or his family.
Court documents revealed the crime left devastating impacts on the victim’s family, including significant emotional trauma, loss of employment for the father to provide full-time care, and deepened distrust of others. “The crime has physically and mentally drained him and his family. It has altered their perspective on life,” the documents state.
Smart, originally from Mississauga, has a long history of criminal activity, substance abuse, and breaches of court orders. A doctor diagnosed him with antisocial personality disorder, and assessments placed him in the 94th to 96th percentile for likelihood of violent reoffending.
Despite the severity of the case, Smart is eligible to apply for parole immediately, as the court declined to extend his parole ineligibility beyond the standard seven years.
The case has raised ongoing concerns about repeat violent offenders, bail enforcement, and community safety.