2 plead guilty to manslaughter in Steven Miller's death
Lucas and Kenny, 2 of 4 accused, previously charged with murder
Two men have pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the July 2016 death of Steven Miller. Chesley Lucas and Calvin Kenny entered the plea in court in St. John's Thursday morning.
The two also pleaded guilty to robbing and confining Miller, as well as arson.
Lucas, 23, and Kenny, 26, are two of four men charged in Miller's death. Also facing charges are Paul Connolly, 36, and Kyle Morgan, 20.
Miller's body was found at the end of a driveway in Conception Bay South neighbourhood on July 30, 2016. Police believe Lucas, Connolly, Kenny and Morgan abducted, robbed and killed Miller.
Police said Miller, 25, was violently abducted from a home in Seal Cove during the pre-dawn hours on July 30 by three armed intruders. The assailants then set fire to the home.
About an hour after police learned Miller was abducted from his home, Connolly was found unconscious on Trails End Drive in Paradise with stab wounds. No one has been charged in that assault.
Lucas, also known as C.J. Clarke, fled the province on a Marine Atlantic ferry to Nova Scotia. A Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was eventually spotted at the Bluenose II restaurant in Halifax having breakfast on Aug. 9, 2016, where he was arrested. He was transported back to Newfoundland to appear in court.
Possible trial for Connolly
Lucas and Kenny were initially charged with murder. Morgan, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, was also charged with murder. Last week, he pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to manslaughter.
A preliminary hearing for Connolly, who is still charged with murder, is scheduled for August.
To ensure Connolly gets a fair trial, there is a publication ban on the cases concerning the other three men.
Connolly and Kenny were also charged in an infamous riot at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's back in February 2014.
In a video of that riot, Connolly is seen hauling a church pew off the floor and using it as a weapon to attack convicted killer Kenny Green.
Lucas and Kenny have a sentencing hearing on July 27. There will be a joint submission from the Crown and defence, which means the two agree on a sentence.
Morgan's sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 18.
Corrections
- A previous version of this story stated Chesley Lucas was involved in a riot at Her Majesty's Penitentiary. That was an error. Lucas was not involved in the incident.Jul 14, 2017 9:47 PM NT