THUNDER BAY -- A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of Travis Cutfeet.
Shawn Joseph Henderson was originally charged with second-degree murder in the May 1, 2013 death of Travis Cutfeet, 30, who died on a May Street sidewalk after being stabbed three times – twice in the back and once in the chest.
The lethal stab wound was the one to the chest, which struck the victim’s heart.
Cutfeet was declared dead on the scene by paramedics.
On Thursday, the murder charge was withdrawn at the Thunder Bay Courthouse and Henderson entered a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Justice Helen Pierce accepted the plea and found Henderson guilty.
According to the agreed statement of facts, on May 1, 2013 a number of witnesses say they saw both the accused and victim at Newfie’s Pub and heard Henderson demand money from Cutfeet.
Cutfeet left the pub with a small group of people, eventually reaching May Street and travelling northbound on foot.
Video surveillance footage from the area captures Henderson following the group.
Witnesses say Henderson approached the group from behind. No one saw a knife but they saw flashes of silver and Henderson strike Cutfeet.
Police received calls of an unresponsive male in the area around 5:21 p.m. Paramedics say Cutfeet’s vital signs were absent upon their arrival.
Through police investigation, Henderson was arrested later that evening in a Victoria Avenue apartment building. A knife was found in a hoodie and clothes matching the accused’s description were found in his apartment near a packed duffle bag.
Henderson will be back in court for sentencing on March 16.
