Remorseful son pleads guilty to manslaughter in stabbing death of his father

Nicholas Russell-Ewanation pleaded guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of his father, Barry Ewanation, in May of last year. Nick Paparella reports.

It was a killing that shocked a community and close-knit family.

In May of last year on the property of Circle R Ranch on Carriage Road west of London, Ont., a murder investigation was underway with a son under arrest and a father stabbed to death.

On Wednesday a London courtroom heard that Barry Ewanation was tragically stabbed 14 times while trying to prevent his son from harming himself.

Originally charged with second-degree murder, Nicholas Russell-Ewanation, now 30, stood up in court and pled guilty to the lesser but included offence of manslaughter.

With the remorseful accused sobbing in the prisoner’s box, Crown Attorney Ryan Lafleur told the court, “His father’s life was taken in a senseless way.”

At the time Barry Ewanation was trying to help his son who has mental health issues. On the day of the killing, the son was depressed and high on cannabis as he dealt with the loss of his grandmother who had just passed away.

The Crown said, “Barry’s life was taken in a violent and shocking manner as he was trying to console his son.”

He continued, “He [Russell-Ewanation] committed a violent act while in a drug induced psychosis state.”

In an agreed statement of facts, the court heard that Russell-Ewanation fled the scene after the attack and was seen by witnesses driving around erratically. The court heard that once he was stopped by police in a field, he had no clothes on and was asking officers to shoot and kill him.

In a joint sentencing submission, both the Crown and the defence asked that he serve five years in prison with credit for time already served while in custody.

After reading 34 letters of support from the Russell-Ewanation family and no victim impact statements, Justice Alissa Mitchell agreed to the five-year sentence.

“Mr. Russell-Ewanation loved his father, he did not intend to cause the death of his father,” she said.

The judge added that the victim and the accused had a close bond.

“A life without his father is a life sentence for Mr. Russell-Ewanation,” she concluded.