Manslaughter, Aggravated assault, Assault with a weapon, Assault causing bodily harm
R. v. Alves
- Below the Crown's ask
Sentence and the Crown's position
Crown asked17 years in custody1
Judge imposedGlobal sentence of 11 years' imprisonment (11 years for manslaughter, concurrent sentences on the assault counts)1
6 years less custody than the Crown asked
What the law allows
MaximumLife imprisonment
Crown asked17 years in custody
Judge imposed11 years in custody
Defence asked6 years in custody
Jacob Alves was convicted by a jury of manslaughter, three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon and one count of assault causing bodily harm for stabbings outside a fraternity house in downtown Toronto on October 31, 2019. The Crown sought 17 years' imprisonment and the defence six years. Justice Byrne imposed a global sentence of 11 years; the Court of Appeal noted that she referred to his youthfulness and lack of record and gave effect to the objective of rehabilitation.
The record
- Convicted of
- Manslaughter (CC 236)
- Aggravated assault (CC 268, 3 counts)
- Assault with a weapon (CC 267(a), 2 counts)
- Assault causing bodily harm (CC 267(b))
- Prior convictions
- 0 prior convictions1
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- 6 years in custody1
- Appeal
- Upheld on appeal, 2026 ONCA 622 (September 4, 2026)
The Court of Appeal for Ontario granted leave to appeal sentence and dismissed the appeal, leaving the 11-year global sentence in place.
1
- Upheld on appeal, 2026 ONCA 622 (September 4, 2026)
Sources
- R. v. Alves, 2026 ONCA 622 Court decision, CanLII, September 4, 2026
[4] At his sentencing hearing, the Crown sought a sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment, less credit for time spent in custody. The Crown suggested that the appellant receive a sentence of 12 years for the manslaughter count and five years consecutive for the remaining offences.
[4] … The defence argued that a sentence of six years’ imprisonment less pre-sentence custody was appropriate, putting the appellant in a time served position.
His Majesty the King Respondent and Jacob Alves Appellant
[8] … Third, the trial judge not only explicitly referred to the appellant’s youthfulness and lack of record, but she also imposed a sentence that was consistent with these factors and gave effect to the objective of rehabilitation.
[5] The trial judge imposed a global sentence of 11 years’ imprisonment. The sentence on the counts broke down as follows, with the sentences for Counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 to run concurrently to the sentence for Count 1. (1) Count 1: Manslaughter – 11 years;
- Criminal Code, s. 236 Record, Justice Laws Website
- R. v. Alves, 2026 ONCA 622 Court decision, Court of Appeal for Ontario, September 4, 2026