Manslaughter, Accessory after the fact to manslaughter
R. v. Williams
Sentence and the Crown's position
What the law allows
Dakota Charles Williams pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his part in a January 2021 home invasion in Glace Bay in which the victim was beaten to death over a drug debt, and to being an accessory after the fact to a separate manslaughter in Dominion two weeks later. Crown and defence jointly recommended 9 years for the manslaughter and 2 years consecutive for the accessory offence. Justice Duncan accepted the joint submission and imposed 11 years in total, less 443 days of enhanced credit, finding that his participation in a planned violent attack and his extensive criminal record placed the manslaughter at the higher end of the 4-to-10-year range.
In the judge's words
1So in my view the proposed sentence of 9 years is appropriate in that it is at the higher end of that 4 to 10 year range. I do not find that there are facts that would take it into the cases that attract sentences higher than ten years.
The record
- Convicted of
- Manslaughter (CC 236)
- Accessory after the fact to manslaughter (CC 463(a)/236)
- Prior convictions
- Not recorded
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- 11 years in custody1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: Glenn F. Gouthro, Nina Johnsen
Defence: Nick E. Burke, Maria Rizzetto
Sources
- R. v. Williams, 2025 NSSC 429 Court decision, CanLII, August 25, 2025
[26] Counsel jointly submitted that Mr. Williams should be incarcerated for a period of 9 years in relation to the manslaughter charge. … [27] … In this case, counsel recommend a sentence of 2 years consecutive.
[26] Counsel jointly submitted that Mr. Williams should be incarcerated for a period of 9 years in relation to the manslaughter charge. … [27] … In this case, counsel recommend a sentence of 2 years consecutive.
[32] In this case there is no minimum sentence for manslaughter
[1] Dakota Williams has entered guilty pleas to two charges being:
[62] So in my view the proposed sentence of 9 years is appropriate in that it is at the higher end of that 4 to 10 year range. I do not find that there are facts that would take it into the cases that attract sentences higher than ten years.
[70] In relation to our file number 529820, I sentence you to a term of 9 years in prison for the offence of manslaughter of … [71] In relation our file number 541292, I sentence you to a term of 2 years consecutive to the previous sentence … [72] … That credit amounts to 443 days making the total sentence on a go forward basis 9 nine years and 278 days.
- R. v. Williams, 2025 NSSC 429 Court decision, Courts of Nova Scotia