Man, 21, shows remorse over killing his friend

The parents of an Edmonton teenager killed just over a year ago have left their son’s bedroom untouched as they struggle to cope with his loss, court heard Tuesday.

Christopher Fawcett, 19, died after being stabbed by his friend Connor Miller on the evening of Oct. 22, 2016.

Court heard Miller, 21, was high on LSD when he stabbed Fawcett. The young men were with a third friend near the Alfred H. Savage Centre at 13204 Fox Dr. when the stabbing happened, police said.

After initially being charged with second-degree murder, Miller pleaded guilty to manslaughter. During sentencing submissions Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Marty Gillingwater asked for an eight- to 10-year prison term, while defence lawyer Rod Gregory argued for between four and six years.

In a courtroom packed with families and friends of both the victim and killer, Fawcett’s mother, Wendy Fawcett, read a statement about being unable to recover from the loss.

Her son was a protector and best friend to his twin brother, who has autism, she said. The brother still goes to Fawcett’s room seeking comfort. She also has a younger son, who is still unable to speak about Fawcett.

Court heard Fawcett was a happy young man, with an “unforgettable smile” and a great sense of humour.

But remembering Fawcett’s kind heart and willingness to befriend anyone has become a source of grief for his father.

“Chris might still be here if he wasn’t as nice of a person as he was,” Mark Fawcett said.

He said he still doesn’t understand why Miller took his son’s life: “He stole him from the world.”

Miller wept as Fawcett’s parents addressed the court.

When the judge gave Miller an opportunity to speak, he turned to address his victim’s family.

“What else can I say other than I’m so sorry I took Chris away from you,” he said.

His lawyer, Rod Gregory, said when police arrived at the scene, it took 12 officers to subdue Miller. He said his client believed he was being attacked by monsters and zombies, and he spent nine days in Alberta Hospital after being arrested.

Though a decision on sentencing was reserved until Dec. 1, Miller was taken into custody after informing the court he didn’t wish to seek a continuation of his bail.