THUNDER BAY — A Whitesand First Nation man who admitted responsibility for the stabbing death of a community member in a remote area near Armstrong could spend the next eight years in custody.
Stanford Kokokons, 53, appeared before Justice Helen Pierce in a Thunder Bay courtroom on Monday for a sentencing hearing.
Kokokons previously pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of manslaughter in connection to the stabbing death of 27-year-old Lance Wanakamik in April 2021.
According to the agreed statement of facts, on the afternoon of April 1, 2021, Kokokons, Wanakamik, and several other individuals travelled to a site near Mud River with a plan to cut wood.
The site, which has several cabins, is located approximately 35 kilometres east of Armstrong and is only accessible by snowmobile or a rail line.
Throughout that evening, nearly everyone was consuming alcohol and Kokokons became extremely intoxicated.
At one point, Kokokons began urinating inside one of the cabins. He was thrown out by one of the individuals present but he returned a short time later.
While in the cabin, Wanakamik began arguing with Kokokons about his urinating on the floor. At some point, Kokokons grabbed a large knife that was on a nearby rack and stabbed Wanakamik once in the chest.
No one witnessed the attack, but another individual inside the cabin said he heard Wanakamik cry out: ‘He stabbed me. He stabbed me.’
Wanakamik was able to walk to another cabin not far away where someone tried to provide first-aid while another individual contacted 911 over a radio phone.
The only way for police and paramedics to reach the area was via a Canadian National Railway high-rail car, which is a pickup truck fixed with railway wheels.
While first responders were travelling to the area, Wanakamik stopped breathing and the 911 dispatcher was notified that he was dead.
Paramedics arriving on the scene confirmed that Wanakamik had already died before they could administer any life-saving measures.
Police located Kokokons asleep in one of the cabins and he was still intoxicated after being woken up, appearing confused and not understanding why police were there.
A post-mortem examination found that the stab wound to Wanakamik’s left chest did not puncture the lung, but it travelled down into his abdominal cavity 10 centimetres and punctured the diaphragm, liver, and blood vessels.
The cause of death was determined to be blood loss from internal bleeding. According to the forensic pathologist, the wound would have resulted in death within 20 to 30 minutes without medical intervention, but that time period may have been shortened due to alcohol intoxication.
Crown attorney Matthew Humphreys is seeking a custodial sentence of eight years, citing alcohol as one of the major contributing factors in this case.
Humphreys argued that Kokokons has previous convictions dating back 23 years ago relating to violence and the consumption of alcohol and noted that he ought to have known that alcohol is problematic for him and even potentially dangerous.
The escalation of the attack on Wanakamik was also cited by Humphreys as an aggravating factor.
“Any level of provocation was minimal at best,” he said. “Being upset about someone urinating on the floor does not warrant a butcher knife being stabbed into his chest.”
Humphreys also acknowledged several mitigating factors in the case, including Kokokons’ admission of guilt and significant Gladue factors.
Defense counsel Kevin Matthews argued for a sentence of four years, highlighting the severity of the Kokokons’ actions and the need for a custodial sentence, but also noting that when sober, Kokokons is a strong and constructive member of his family and community.
Matthews added that Kokokons is capable of maintaining sobriety, including a 12-year period in the past and abstaining from alcohol since the time of his arrest.
Both the Crown and defense agreed that Kokokons’ actions did not rise to the level of second-degree murder because the intent to cause death could not be determined based on the level of intoxication.
“[Kokokons] was shocked, saddened, and distressed when he learned of the details of what happened,” Matthews said, noting that Kokokons has no memory of the stabbing. “He told me he lives with it every day.”
When given the opportunity to speak, Kokokons apologized to the court.
“I just want to say I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry it happened. I just feel bad.”
Pierce will return at a later date with a decision on sentence. Kokokons remains out of custody after being released on bail in September 2021.