Colten McNeely was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison after stabbing his friend Lloyd Edgi to death in Fort Good Hope three years ago. 

McNeely was originally charged with second-degree murder. Justice Andrew Mahar found him guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter as McNeelySA国际影视传媒檚 judgement was SA国际影视传媒渟everelySA国际影视传媒� impaired from alcohol and he appeared to be acting in self-defence. 

"The situation arose as a result of jealousy and intoxication," Mahar said in delivering his sentence.

On the night Edgi died, the two men were arguing over an affair between McNeely and EdgiSA国际影视传媒檚 partner. Edgi first assaulted McNeely on his house porch leaving McNeely with a bloody nose before leaving the scene. 

During the two-week trial, McNeely told the court he later sought out Edgi to sort things out with his friend but armed himself with a hunting knife for fear Edgi might still be angry to the point of violence. When McNeely found Edgi, Edgi begun pushing and hitting him. McNeely used the knife to stop the assault. 

McNeely stabbed Edgi nine times SA国际影视传媒� all in the area of his upper left chest. The fatal wound was a 10-centimetre blow to EdgiSA国际影视传媒檚 heart. 

Regardless of McNeelySA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渞ecklessSA国际影视传媒� actions, Mahar said, his SA国际影视传媒渨anting to make amends is not entirely without merit.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭his was a gross overreaction of the situation he found himself in,SA国际影视传媒� the judge said, however SA国际影视传媒�(McNeely) did not specifically intend to cause (Edgi) harm.SA国际影视传媒� 

Mahar told the court that manslaughter is a particularly difficult crime to sentence because of its broad spectrum of culpability ranging from near accident to near murder. This offence is at the upper end of that scale, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲ere it not for the level of intoxication, this would have been second-degree murder. The risk of death was clearly present.SA国际影视传媒�

Mahar told the court he would also recommend McNeely serve his sentence in the Northwest Territories "if at all possible," as he considers McNeely to be SA国际影视传媒渁 vulnerable inmate.SA国际影视传媒�

He said that McNeely appears before the court as a young man, and no evidence that the events of EdgiSA国际影视传媒檚 death were within character for McNeely. Mahar also acknowledged the present Gladue factors.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe every effort should be made through corrections Canada to keep (McNeely) safe and allow him to make progress,SA国际影视传媒� said the judge.

A number of EdgiSA国际影视传媒檚 family members and friends were present in the public gallery to hear McNeelySA国际影视传媒檚 sentence. The NWT Supreme Court heard Monday about how EdgiSA国际影视传媒檚 death impacted so many of their lives. 

Mahar called the Nov. 2 hearing SA国际影视传媒渉eartbreaking,SA国际影视传媒� acknowledging the hardships losing Edgi has caused for much of the community of 500 people. Mahar expressed particular sympathy for EdgiSA国际影视传媒檚 two young children, who will grow up without their father. 

The judge also acknowledged McNeelySA国际影视传媒檚 apology and the remorse he showed for his actions. 

The offender told the court that he wishes he SA国际影视传媒渃ould take (Edgi)SA国际影视传媒檚 familySA国际影视传媒檚 pain away,SA国际影视传媒� and that, SA国际影视传媒渋f time in jail could bring him back, ISA国际影视传媒檇 be happy to serve all the time ISA国际影视传媒檝e got.SA国际影视传媒�

McNeely also said he anticipates never being welcome back into Fort Good Hope. 

Mahar said he hopes that changes. He told the gallery he hopes the community can SA国际影视传媒渕ove to a place where some limited amount of forgiveness is possible.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淢r. McNeely,SA国际影视传媒� Mahar said, SA国际影视传媒淚 hope you can forgive yourself, too.SA国际影视传媒�