Murder not manslaughter

On Feb. 20, Jason Robert MacKenzie was sentenced to 15 years (minus ‘time served’) for manslaughter in the killing of 33-year-old Nikki Campbell.

Although this is one of the highest sentences in Nova Scotia for a manslaughter charge, there’s one problem: this act was absolutely not manslaughter.

Manslaughter is defined as the crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought, or otherwise, in circumstances not amounting to murder. MacKenzie knew exactly what he was doing from the time of the murder to that of his incarceration and until sentencing.

After stabbing her five times, he premeditatedly locked his door and left her outside at the top of the stairs. He then took his knife, broke into an empty apartment to hide, with his clothing changed. I don’t know if prosecutors want to save the taxpayers money, relieve the family of the stress of a trial or just don’t want to work diligently for the salaries we pay. Regardless, the parties reached an agreement on manslaughter. Because of this, it seemed like factual information was euphemized and favours were granted.

For instance, they described cuts to her hands. Why not call them what they were – defensive wounds? Initially, MacKenzie stated he killed her in self defence, however, the only wounds were exclusive to Nikki. Even MacKenzie’s robbery charges were dropped in what was likely part of a “deal” that referred to murder as manslaughter.

For over three years, he stalled court proceedings awaiting psychiatric assessment that never manifested, and later hoping to walk free with the ‘Jordan Rule’ which allows offenders to be freed if their trial exceeds three years.

The accused receives an added bonus of 1.5 days off his sentence for each day served prior to trial. He’ll serve little more than 10 years.

The rights of the defendant are protected while those of the injured party are completely lost. Victims become a non-entity as court dockets refer to them simply as a number. I’d be content to pay the tax dollars for a violent offender to make real compensation for the crime perpetrated; to call it by its name – murder; and to have longer sentences that protect society in general.

While so many advantages go to the defence, all blame seems relegated to the victim. Impeding the trial benefits the defendant and only tortures the family. Our justice system is manipulated by offenders as lenient sentences are repeatedly assigned to violent offenders. I fail to see how this could be a deterrent to crime. When is this Canadian Justice System going to do something to accommodate the victim?

MacKenzie made a choice the first, second, third, fourth and fifth time he penetrated Nikki’s neck with his knife (which leaves no doubt in my mind that his intent was to end her life). He made a choice not to obtain any help for her. He made a choice to change from bloody clothing to fresh ones, and another choice to conceal the knife and hide himself. All these acts were deliberate and calculating efforts to secure his protection, and at the same time, rob a young woman of her life.

This was not manslaughter – it was murder.

Debbie Cormier,

Westville