Ahtahkakoop man ‘blacked out drunk’ when he killed his grandfather: court

“Almost immediately after arriving, the accused began to assault the victim,” she said.

Knife’s sister was at the home with her grandfather watching television, and was the one who called 911. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to stop her brother.

“The accused had blood on his fists at that point,” Hubbard said.

The sister ran from the house and called for help.

When later found by police, Williams was lying on his back and had swelling on his face, numerous abrasions and his jaw was broken. The autopsy determined he died from blunt force trauma as well as asphyxiation. Inside the room where Williams was found, were three dining room chairs tipped over, and one had a leg broken loose.

Knife, for his part, while still heavily intoxicated called police about three hours later and turned himself in.

“He told officers he had consumed a significant amount of drugs and alcohol the night before. He was upset with the victim because he believed he was a pedophile and a pervert. He did not remember going to the victim’s house or assaulting him,” Hubbard said.

While declining the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement, Hubbard said the family had indicated to her the incident had a significant impact on them.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Crookshanks noted Knife was very remorseful for his actions and had been prepared to enter a guilty plea from the first time she first met him after his arrest. She also noted how Knife had turned down the opportunity for a bail hearing and opted instead to stay in custody.

When describing what led to Knife’s heavy drinking and drug use, Crookshanks explained how he had lost a number of family members – most recently his cousin who had committed suicide, and it was her wake the family was attending the day prior to the assault.

In his closing remarks, Judge Bryce Pashovitz addressed the family members present in court and explained how prior to that morning, he had known the case only through what was on paper.

“I did not know this was a case of a grandson and a grandfather. I am sincerely sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine what the family has gone through since this incident,” he said.

Outside the courthouse, the victim’s sister Vivian Knife talked to paNOW and said she does not think the sentence fits the crime.

“Not the way he passed away like he was beaten for maybe a couple hours and in his own home,” she said.

Vivian lived next door to her brother and fighting back tears, explained how to this day she still expects him to come out each day to do his chores.

“I can’t see that anymore because he’s gone …and for what drugs and alcohol. They always use that excuse. They have it in their mind what they are going to do,” she said.

With credit for time spent in remand, Knife has roughly five and a half years left on his sentence. Upon his release he will be prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or explosives for a period of 10 years.

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Ahtahkakoop man ‘blacked out drunk’ when he killed his grandfather: court

What's Trending