The night Amanda Wiecek saved her own life
A Winnipeg woman’s story of bravery and grit escaping a night of terrifying domestic violence
Amanda Wiecek does not recall the exact instant when her ex-boyfriend, Machuor Akau, fired a gun at her face. She does remember the aftermath, however. The night of November 2, 2025, Akau entered her apartment on Wellington Crescent, brandished a firearm, and pulled the trigger. The 26-year-old woman had just begun dating Akau in June 2025, initially believing their relationship to be a fairy tale. However, within months, the fairy tale turned dark and violent.
During a party in September 2025, Akau accused Amanda of hiding information, pushed her, and broke her phone. She initially did not want to inform her family due to feelings of shame and embarrassment. Nonetheless, when Akau assaulted her again in October and threatened to continue hurting her, Amanda's parents became involved. Her father, Paul Wiecek, a former police reporter, urged Amanda to involve the authorities and obtain a protective order. Despite her reluctance, Paul reluctantly accepted that she would make her own decisions.
In the end, Akau pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, criminal negligence, possession of a prohibited firearm, and careless use of a firearm. He was sentenced to 7½ years in prison, which his family found insufficient for the severity of his crime. Amanda, for her part, has chosen to share her story fully for the first time, stating that she has already named her attacker and will not let him escape justice.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
