Dale Swampy guilty of manslaughter in stabbing death
The Edmonton man charged with second-degree murder of his girlfriend’s best friend was found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday night.
Dale Swampy showed no reaction when the verdict was read.
"Dale was expecting the worst because I prepared him for it,” said Laurie Wood, Swampy’s lawyer.
The jury began their deliberations on Tuesday afternoon.
Swampy spent 4 months in custody until he was freed on bail.
He was taken back into custody Wednesday night, despite his lawyer’s request to allow him to be free on bail until the sentencing hearing. The crown disagreed and the judge ordered Swampy be taken into custody.
Wood said Swampy’s family said their goodbyes to him prior to the verdict being announced.
Swampy will return to court on March 13 when a date will be set for a Gladue hearing, when consideration is given to the fact that Swampy is aboriginal.
Swampy was charged with second-degree murder in May 2012 after Savanah Morin, 20, was beaten and stabbed in a downtown Edmonton apartment. Morin was also a friend of his.
Swampy was arrested the next day at his mother’s place. During the trial the jury was told memories of the night were faulty because of the amount of liquor consumed.
Morin, who was stabbed in the abdomen, was rushed to hospital where she later died.
