Man pleads guilty to reduced charge of manslaughter

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This article was published 26/07/2007 (7011 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 26-year-old man pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter yesterday after the Crown admitted it would have a tough time making a murder charge stick.

Nathan Marriott was given a seven-year sentence for his role in the death of Jeff Gibson, 37.

Gibson’s body was found in a shallow grave just outside Warren, about 40 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, in October 2004.

“It’s not fair,” said a family member of the victim who did not want to be identified.

Marriott was given double credit for the 25 months he has been in custody on the matter. That means he will only have to serve another 34 months.

Gibson’s body was found only after Marriott’s roommate showed police where it was located.

Marriott was charged with second-degree murder and was scheduled to go to trial in November 2008. His roommate testified at the preliminary hearing and was expected to play a prominent role in the trial.

Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft, however, told the court yesterday that it would have been difficult to convict Marriott of murder.

“This case did not provide a great deal of forensic evidence,” said Vanderhooft in explaining the plea bargain.

Gibson was killed following a confrontation with Marriott at a residence in the 200 block of Cheriton Avenue days before his body was discovered.

Court was told that Marriott and Gibson were neighbours in a duplex. Defence lawyer Martin Glazer said his client was initially coming to the rescue of a woman who was being assaulted by Gibson. Court was told the woman and Gibson were involved in a relationship.

“It’s ironic he (Marriott) ended up a villain when he started out as a hero,” said Glazer. “Things got out of hand and Mr. Marriott takes full responsibility for that.”

Gibson suffered blunt force trauma to the head and chest and had been suffocated. Gibson’s family bristled at any suggestion that Marriott was a hero. In victim impact statements read to the court by the Crown, they spoke of their loss and feelings of anger and frustration.

david.kuxhaus@freepress.mb.ca