Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Judge wants more information before handing down sentence

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 08/27/2012 3:01 PM | Comments: 0

Nolan Norman was fatally stabbed. (FAMILY PHOTO / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

A manslaughter sentencing came to a sudden halt today when serious questions were raised about the exact circumstances of the killing.

Jordan Smith appeared in court, expecting to learn his fate for the November 2009 attack that left 19-year-old Nolan Norman dead. Smith, 23, pleaded guilty last October and has been waiting behind bars on a decision since sentencing submissions were made last January.

But provincial court Judge Sid Lerner told lawyers today he was not prepared to give a sentence until he knows exactly what Smith is admitting to. Specifically, Smith claims he accidentally stabbed the victim in the heart during a scuffle on a Transcona street. But the Crown believes it was much more malicious, especially given the history of bad blood between the pair.

The case has been adjourned until Sept. 4 for lawyers to decide if they will take the highly unusual step of calling evidence at a sentencing hearing.

Smith has been in custody for nearly three years since his arrest and is seeking to be released with a penalty of time served, especially since he qualifies for double-time credit because he was jailed prior to federal changes outlawing the 2-for-1 practice.

The Crown is seeking a nine-year total sentence, less time in custody.

Norman suffered the fatal injury after a brawl on Victoria Street. He had crashed a house party and attacked one of the guests, who had sold him a dose of cocaine earlier that night which he wasn’t happy with, court was told.

The drug dealer suffered serious injuries and returned inside the party to tell his friends – including Smith – what happened. That’s when a large group of people armed with various weapons rushed outside and jumped Norman.

The fight ended when Smith pulled out a knife he’d grabbed and plunged it into Norman’s chest. He also stabbed him in the buttocks as Norman fled the scene, eventually collapsing nearby. He was rushed to the Health Sciences Centre but pronounced dead.

The Crown claims the fact Smith stabbed Norman a second time shows the initial knife wound was no accident, along with the fact the chest wound went nearly 12-cm deep.

Smith was originally charged with second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 10 years upon conviction. The Crown agreed to a reduced plea to manslaughter because Smith was severely intoxicated at the time.

Smith has a history with the courts and was out on bail at the time of the deadly attack for a previous assault on his then 14-year-old girlfriend, plus breaching several court orders including a nightly curfew and order to abstain from alcohol.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.