‘I still haven’t accepted that Malik is gone’: Sentencing submissions continue in stabbing death of teen

Sentencing submissions in Treyton Hoffman's manslaughter case saw family members of his teen victim share their loss. Reta Ismail has more.

Emotional victim impact statements were read in an Ontario Provincial Court courtroom Tuesday as sentencing submissions continued in the manslaughter case involving the death of a London teenager.

Sixteen-year-old Malik McDonnell-Mills died after being stabbed on Aug. 9, 2023.

A close friend described Malik as “the sweetest young man anyone could have ever met,” adding he was “very courageous and intelligent,” and “had so much going for him.”

Another person told the court, “Since Malik has been gone, this world seems so lonely and dark without him.”

Malik’s mother Jennifer McDonnell was visibly emotional when she said, “All I wanted was my son back… I still haven’t accepted that Malik is gone.”

Speaking to CTV News outside the courthouse McDonnell said, “Malik was smart, talented, excited to be alive,” and that he “was living his life positively and finally, for the first time, being happy - and he had so many hopes and dreams and talent, and it was just taken away in an instant.”

Last October, a London jury found 20-year-old Treyton Hoffman guilty of manslaughter in connection with McDonnell-Mills’ death.

During sentencing submissions, the Crown argued Hoffman was a party to the offence, despite not delivering the fatal stab wound.

Prosecutors allege Hoffman chased the victim and used pepper spray during the incident. The Crown is seeking a seven year sentence, minus credit for time already served.

Defence counsel disputed the Crown’s position, arguing there is a lack of what they described as “robust evidence,” and maintaining the case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court heard that a group of young people had gathered on the night of the incident and were consuming alcohol and marijuana. McDonnell-Mills later suffered a fatal stab wound to the femoral artery.

Two other individuals charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act still have matters before the court in relation to the same incident.

Hoffman remains free on bail. The sentencing hearing resumes April 21.