Jury down to 10 finds man guilty of manslaughter, not murder

Calgarian William Allen Littlechild was too drunk to form the intent to commit murder when he slashed the throat of a complete stranger, a jury ruled late Thursday.

The jury — reduced to 10 members by the time they reached their verdict — deliberated over two days before finding Littlechild not guilty of second-degree murder.

Instead, jurors found Littlechild guilty of manslaughter in the July 26, 2013, death of Robyn Gladue.

Littlechild glanced towards the floor, but showed little signs of outward emotion as the jury forewoman read the verdict his lawyers had sought.

Lead defence counsel Kathryn Quinlan argued Wednesday morning jurors should find Littlechild was incapable of forming the specific intent to commit murder because of his alcohol consumption the day of the killing.

Quinlan said Littlechild — who testified he had no recollection of killing Gladue — consumed enough booze to render most people catatonic.

She said her client’s shocked reaction in a police interview following the killing to CCTV footage of the deadly attack confirmed his total lack of memory of the slaying.

Quinlan said Littlechild’s reaction was similar to that of jurors who were shown the video in court.

“Mr. Littlechild shares that reaction, the reaction that you likely had on seeing the CCTV video, you’ll remember his words from the statement on seeing that video ‘oh my God, f-- monster, f-- stop,’” she said.

But Crown prosecutor Ken McCaffrey argued the video showed Littlechild not only slashing Gladue’s throat, but showing the dexterity to hit, stomp and stab him as well, after the initial attack.

The jury came perilously close to not being able to reach a verdict as two were excused — including one late Thursday — while another complained of heart problems during deliberations.

In Canada a minimum 10 jurors can decide a criminal case.

A date for Littlechild’s sentencing will be set May 26.