Jail time sought for fatal blow

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This article was published 06/11/2014 (3988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It began as a fun evening for members of a Winnipeg high school football team looking to kick off their upcoming season.

But it ended with a surprise visit from a rival team, heated insults and a devastating decision that led to death.

Full details of the August 2013 killing of 18-year-old Kildonan East student Christian O’Neail emerged this week at a sentencing hearing.

The killer, who was 17 at the time, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The Crown is seeking the maximum youth sentence of two years in custody, while defence lawyer Greg Brodsky is asking for probation and possibly even a discharge. The sentencing decision is expected Nov. 28.

O’Neail died after a single punch to the head that knocked him unconscious. He fell to the ground outside a home on Nevens Bay in Transcona, striking his head and suffering a catastrophic brain injury. He was removed from life-support days later, and his organs were donated by family.

“Christian O’Neail isn’t here today because of a sucker punch he never saw coming,” Crown attorney Dan Angus told court. “This was by no means, in any way, a consensual fight. This was a senseless and careless act of violence.”

Several family members read powerful victim impact statements in court, including both parents, who described how their lives have been shattered.

“I could not imagine on that day I would watch my child die, hold him in my arms, wipe his final tears and feel the warmth leave his body,” his mother, Deborah O’Neail, said. “We were good, careful and loving parents.”

“There’s nothing worse for a parent than having to watch your child die,” his father, Victor O’Neail, added.

O’Neail and other Kildonan East football players and students had gone to a house party after receiving an invitation from a friend. The event was being hosted by members of the Murdoch MacKay football team as part of a “rookie initiation,” court was told

There was no adult supervision at the party. The parents who owned the home had given their son permission to hold the gathering and rented a downtown Winnipeg hotel suite for the night. The party quickly got out of hand, with approximately 60 people in attendance — including Kildonan East football players — and plenty of drinking.

The Crown said there were several incidents, including a backyard “battle rap” that led to arguments and shouts about which school had the better football team.

The killer, who was a Murdoch MacKay student but had no connection to the home, grew angry at what he felt was improper behaviour from O’Neail and others, court was told. He even spoke openly about wanting to “knock out some randoms.”

What he didn’t know was O’Neail and his Kildonan East friends had agreed to leave the party, even shaking hands with the homeowner and some Murdoch MacKay students as they walked to their cars on the front street.

‘Christian O’Neail isn’t here today because of a sucker punch he never saw coming. This was by no means, in any way, a consensual fight. This was a senseless and careless act of violence’ — Crown attorney Dan Angus

That’s when the killer sprung out of the crowd and threw what would prove to be the deadly punch.

“He was initially cheered from the Murdoch people, an actual cheer went out, not understanding the gravity of what had gone on,” said Angus. “This wasn’t a fight in the house in the heat of the moment. The punch was unnecessary, gratuitous violence.”

The teen killer was freed on bail after a few days and has remained in the community ever since, where his lawyer says he should remain.

“He didn’t intend the consequences of his actions,” said Brodsky. “He’s been described as a peacemaker who would avoid conflict.”

The young man read an apology in court this week aimed at the family of his victim.

“I wish I could go back to that night and do so much differently. I’ve been living with it every day. I think about Christian every day,” he said. “I’ve realized how valuable life is. Life can change in an instant. Any choice we make can have a huge consequence.”

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