N.S. man sentenced to 8½ years for manslaughter

A Nova Scotia man has been sentenced to 8½ years in prison for manslaughter.

Nathan Knockwood pleaded guilty to the charge in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in relation to the stabbing death of Troy Whidden in November 2021. Knockwood had originally been charged with second-degree murder. 

According to an agreed statement of facts, Knockwood and Whidden had been fighting. Whidden was known to become violent when he drank.

Knockwood said he fell asleep on the floor of a Truro apartment and woke to find Whidden standing over him with his knee on his stomach and a bayonet in his hand.

A struggle ensued. Knockwood got the bayonet away from Whidden and stabbed him twice in the leg. Whidden bled to death from a severed artery.

Knockwood told his father about the incident, who in turn told police.

Police got a search warrant for Knockwood's residence and seized several items, including bloody pants. They found Knockwood in Victoria Park in Truro.

The Crown and defence made a joint recommendation on the range of sentence Justice Jamie Campbell could consider in making his decision, which was published Friday.

Self-defence denied

In his ruling, Campbell said that even though Whidden initiated the fight, Knockwood couldn't use a claim of self-defence because he used excessive force.

But the judge found a murder charge couldn't be sustained because it couldn't be proved that Knockwood intended to kill Whidden.

The judge also reflected on Knockwood's Mi'kmaw heritage and on the fact he was exposed to violence and alcohol abuse in his home as he was growing up.

The judge had the benefit of a Gladue Report on Indigenous issues relating to this case, and how those issues should impact the sentence.

"It should not be seen as a 'discount' because it is not," Campbell wrote. "It is a recognition of who he is and the confluence of factors that have contributed to bringing him to this place."

With credit for time he has already served, Knockwood's remaining sentence is four years and 138 days.