THUNDER BAY — A Toronto man convicted of manslaughter for stabbing another man seven times at Andras Court three years ago will receive his sentence later this month.
On Monday, a virtual sentencing hearing was held for Isaac Talbot-Hall, 29. He was initially charged with second-degree murder for the death of 28-year-old Shawn Newsome, of Ajax, Ont., but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter earlier this year.
First responders were called to Andras Court on South Cumberland Street in the early morning hours of Sept. 24, 2022. Newsome was found at the scene and taken to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries later that day.
According to the agreed statement of facts, a woman was in her apartment in the north-side complex with a friend when Newsome, the woman’s boyfriend, arrived around 12:30 a.m.
Newsome brandished a knife and threatened to “rape, harm and kill” both women.
Afraid he would follow through, the women went upstairs to a different apartment and asked Talbot-Hall for help.
Talbot-Hall and his girlfriend were there staying with a friend.
Talbot-Hall knew Newsome’s girlfriend through the friend he was staying with and knew she was “victimized violently” throughout the course of her relationship with Newsome.
Talbot-Hall, in possession of a knife, went downstairs to the woman’s apartment, with the two women, and was immediately confronted by Newsome.
A violent struggle ensured and Newsome was stabbed seven times – three times in the abdomen, once in the back, twice in the arm and once in the head.
Talbot-Hall then went back upstairs, packed his bag and left with his girlfriend.
He was located and arrested by police on Nov. 8, 2022.
Crown lawyer, Brendan Thomas, asked Justice Helen Pierce to consider a sentence of 10 years in jail for Talbot-Hall, stating the two women were no longer in immediate danger once upstairs, he did not call 911 and he fled the scene.
Thomas also noted the seven wounds were inflicted over a quick period of time and surveillance video shows Talbot-Hall was hiding the knife in his possession when he went to confront Newsome.
The Crown noted Talbot-Hall’s intentions were likely good, that he was attempting to stand up for others, but proceeded in the wrong way.
He armed himself and proceeded into a situation he knew would be violent, said Thomas.
Defence lawyer, Anthony DeMarco, argued the sentence should be five years in custody, and noted Talbot Hall already had the knife when he first opened the door of the apartment he was staying in when the two women came running to the door.
DeMarco also said when Talbot-Hall went to confront Newsome, the door opened and the trouble was immediate.
Justice Pierce is expected to deliver a decision on the sentence on May 28.
