Edmonton man convicted second time in 2010 killing
First conviction overturned by appeals court on a technicality
A 25-year-old man was convicted a second time Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of Andrew Patrick McPherson in August 2010.
In November 2013, Jordan Cordell Steinhauer was convicted of second-degree murder by a jury. That conviction was later quashed by the Alberta Court of Appeal because the jury was not properly instructed on the possibility Steinhauer was too drunk to form murderous intent.
On Tuesday, Steinhauer gave up his right to a second trial and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The night of Aug. 27, 2010, Steinhauer and several friends were at a house party also attended by McPherson. Many of the party guests were thrown out after a stabbing occurred that did not involve Steinhauer or McPherson.
Steinhauer’s group ended up drinking at McPherson’s apartment near 149th Avenue and 26th Street, though they’d only met that night.
At one point, according to an agreed statement of facts, McPherson showed the group some designer purses in his home and said he’d give one to Steinhauer’s female friend if she was his girlfriend. This angered Steinhauer.
Later, an argument erupted and Steinhauer stabbed McPherson at least twice in the chest. “I’m done,” the injured McPherson said. “You done me in.”
An autopsy showed McPherson was stabbed 16 times, but defence lawyer Mona Duckett told court it wasn’t clear who inflicted those other wounds.
“We know nothing else because of people fleeing the apartment and the level of intoxication of those present,” Duckett said.
Outside the apartment, Steinhauer threw away the bloody knife. He was still drunkhourslaterwhenpolice arrested him on an unrelated warrant. McPherson’s body wasn’t found until more than a week later.
“I want to say I’m sorry to the friends and family of Andrew,” Steinhauer said. “When this happened, I was young, in a gang and surviving on the streets. I was in that lifestyle, but I didn’t want to live it.”
Crown prosecutor Terry Hoffman argued Steinhauer should be sentenced to 10 years in prison. Duckett argued that eight years was more appropriate.
Steinhauer has been in custody since the incident. With enhanced credit for pretrial custody, he has already served nearly seven years of his sentence. Steinhauer is to be sentenced on June 30.