THUNDER BAY -- A Superior Court of Justice found Nicholas Webber guilty of manslaughter.
The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter and break and enter in his role in a September 2011 incident. Police charged Webber in March 2011 in connection to the death of 54-year-old Robert Topping.
Having heard Webber’s plea, Judge Doug Shaw found him guilty on both counts on Wednesday, but did not hand down a sentence.
That sentence is expected to be delivered after a hearing Thursday.
Police also charged Cody Thompson, who died while in custody, Christopher Hawk and Sheldon Wabason. The charges follow an incident where four men broke into a house on Minnesota Street.
The court heard that Paulette Cloutier, who was watching the house while her son was out of town, noticed someone outside and called Topping to come over.
The four men broke into the home and when Topping arrived they confronted him. During that confrontation, Topping was stabbed, and died of the result of the wounds he sustained.
The court heard from Topping’s family and how the actions of Webber and the three other accused who broke into a Minnesota Street residence changed their lives.
Paulette Cloutier, who had a son with Topping and remained good friends with him, took the stand to read a victim's impact statements from the family.
In each of those letters Topping was described as being a “role model” and someone who they could open up to.
Cloutier appeared visually upset as she read the letters. She said she continues to have nightmares of the events that happened and remembers how Topping came to her rescue at the cost of his own life.
“I used to have a best friend named Rob Topping,” she said with a shaky voice.
“I’m afraid all the time. I worry about my family’s safety. It feels like my life and my world is at a standstill. I have to deal with the guilt of calling him over, dealing with the guilt of him trying to save me and being my hero. I will never forget that night.”
Cloutier also read a letter from her and Topping’s son Jordan. In the statement, Jordan called the day his father died as the worst day of his life.
Being only 16-years-old, he wrote that he never thought he would be planning for his father’s funeral so soon.
He added that he was grateful that Topping went to save his mother, but saddened by the tragic results.
“He wasn’t just my dad; he was my roommate, my best friend,” Jordan said in his statement.
“It’s hard to know that my dad won’t be at my wedding or see my children. Life will never be the same again.”
Webber’s lawyer Chris Watkins also called witnesses on his client’s behalf.
Rev. Kenneth Shawn Cox, who runs a number of programs at the Thunder Bay District Jail, told the courts how Webber had changed and had embraced Christianity.
He said Webber told him he felt remorseful for what he had done and that his future will be guided by God.
“I can honestly say this man has changed,” Cox told the court.
“He’s no longer a kid; -- he’s a young man. It’s unfortunate through this tragedy Nick has worked on changing his life. I’m not a betting man but I’d put it all on him that he will be OK.”
