Sentencing decision following guilty pleas to being a party to manslaughter and assault with a weapon arising from a retaliatory armed confrontation at a bush party.
The offender attended with others to assist in another person's grievance, knowing a handgun was present, while himself armed with a machete, then assaulted one victim as another participant fatally shot a second victim.
The court held the offence was close to murder on the manslaughter spectrum, prioritized denunciation and deterrence, and treated the offender's youth, guilty plea, partial cooperation, and harsh pretrial conditions as mitigating factors.
A total sentence of 10 years' imprisonment was imposed, with a concurrent 2-year term for assault with a weapon, enhanced pre-sentence credit, and ancillary weapons, DNA, and no-contact orders.
