{
 "id": "014",
 "offence": "Manslaughter, Nova Scotia",
 "jurisdiction": "Nova Scotia",
 "years": "2019 / 2026",
 "story": [
  "Both he and she were convicted of manslaughter in Nova Scotia. Both pleaded guilty. In both cases the Crown and the defence jointly proposed the sentence.",
  "Robert Jason MacKenzie, 39, had been in a relationship with Agnes Nicole Campbell (36) for only a few weeks. She was found dead at the top of the stairs in his apartment after a noise complaint. She had five stab wounds to the neck. Both had been using alcohol and drugs. He has a record from 1997 to 2006. The court imposed 15 years in custody. With credit for 1,722 days of pre-sentence custody (1.5 days per day), 10 years and 107 days remained to be served. (paras. 1, 3, 6, 11, 13, 15, 19, 24, 28)",
  "Carolyn Anne Dermody was 25 in November 2023. She had known 48-year-old Natasha Leroy for almost her whole life. Dermody stabbed Leroy three times in the torso and abdomen, did not call for help and drove to Halifax; the body was hidden and set on fire. Leroy was drunk and unarmed. Dermody has an extensive record. The court imposed 8 years in custody with credit for pre-sentence custody at 1.5 to 1 (1,714 days). (paras. 2, 14, 27, 69)",
  "The court noted a brutal, unprovoked attack committed while she was on probation and under a weapons prohibition. Mitigating factors: guilty plea, youth, willingness to take programs and a hard past of violence and instability. (paras. 3, 58)"
 ],
 "male": {
  "case": "R. v. MacKenzie",
  "citation": "2019 NSSC 67",
  "court": "Supreme Court of Nova Scotia",
  "date": "2019-02-21",
  "charge": "Manslaughter",
  "outcome": "Pleaded guilty; sentenced on a joint recommendation",
  "sentence": "15 years",
  "facts": "Campbell found dead at the stairs in his apartment, five stab wounds to the neck; the relationship had lasted a few weeks; record from 1997–2006; aggravating: weapon, domestic context; mitigating: guilty plea. (paras. 1, 3, 6, 13, 19, 24, 28)",
  "source": "https://decisia.lexum.com/nsc/nssc/en/item/363623/index.do"
 },
 "female": {
  "case": "R. v. Dermody",
  "citation": "2026 NSSC 300",
  "court": "Supreme Court of Nova Scotia",
  "date": "2026-09-17",
  "charge": "Manslaughter, Criminal Code s. 236(b)",
  "outcome": "Pleaded guilty; sentenced on a joint recommendation",
  "sentence": "8 years",
  "facts": "Three stab wounds to Leroy's torso and abdomen, did not call for help, drove to Halifax; extensive record; aggravating: brutality, probation, weapons prohibition; mitigating: guilty plea, youth, hard past. (paras. 1, 2, 3, 14, 27, 58, 69)",
  "source": "https://decisia.lexum.com/nsc/nssc/en/item/523938/index.do"
 },
 "law": [
  "Criminal Code s. 718.2(b)",
  "Charter s. 15",
  "Charter s. 28"
 ],
 "after": "",
 "added": "2026-10-17",
 "evidence": {
  "male": {
   "offender_name": {
    "value": "Robert Jason MacKenzie",
    "quote": "Robert Jason MacKenzie appears for sentencing having entered a guilty plea",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "offence": {
    "value": "Manslaughter",
    "quote": "guilty plea to the offence of manslaughter in the death of Agnes Nicole Campbell",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "plea": {
    "value": "Guilty",
    "quote": "having entered a guilty plea to the offence of manslaughter",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "sentence": {
    "value": "15 years imprisonment (joint recommendation accepted); with 1722 days pre-sentence custody credited at 1.5 days per day, 10 years and 107 days remain to be served",
    "quote": "sentence Mr. MacKenzie to 15 years imprisonment",
    "para": "28"
   },
   "sentence_months": {
    "value": "180",
    "quote": "sentence Mr. MacKenzie to 15 years imprisonment",
    "para": "28"
   },
   "crown_position": {
    "value": "Joint recommendation of 15 years imprisonment with credit for pre-sentence custody",
    "quote": "jointly recommend a sentence of 15 years imprisonment for this offence with credit given for pre-sentence custody",
    "para": "24"
   },
   "victim": {
    "value": "Agnes Nicole Campbell",
    "quote": "death of Agnes Nicole Campbell",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "victim_age": {
    "value": "36",
    "quote": "Ms. Campbell was 36 years old at the time of her death",
    "para": "15"
   },
   "relationship": {
    "value": "Domestic-type relationship of only a matter of weeks before the incident",
    "quote": "had entered into a domestic type relationship for only a matter of weeks prior to the incident",
    "para": "3"
   },
   "criminal_record": {
    "value": "Yes, criminal record dating from 1997 to 2006, including restricted drugs and possession of stolen property",
    "quote": "Mr. MacKenzie has a criminal record dating from 1997 to 2006",
    "para": "13"
   },
   "offender_age": {
    "value": "39",
    "quote": "Mr. MacKenzie is 39 years of age",
    "para": "11"
   },
   "key_facts": {
    "value": "Victim found dead at top of stairs to offender's apartment after noise complaint; five stab wounds to neck; both had consumed alcohol and drugs; offender admitted high intoxication",
    "quote": "five stab wounds to the back and side of Ms. Campbell’s neck",
    "para": "6"
   },
   "aggravating": {
    "value": "Criminal record; use of a weapon (multiple stabbings to the neck); left victim on the floor after inflicting wounds; domestic in nature",
    "quote": "The offender used a weapon in causing the victim’s death",
    "para": "19"
   },
   "mitigating": {
    "value": "Guilty plea",
    "quote": "The offender entered a plea of guilty.",
    "para": "19"
   }
  },
  "female": {
   "offender_name": {
    "value": "Carolyn Ann Dermody",
    "quote": "Carolyn Ann Dermody",
    "para": ""
   },
   "offence": {
    "value": "Manslaughter",
    "quote": "did thereby commit manslaughter, contrary to section 236(b) of the Criminal Code",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "criminal_code_sections": {
    "value": "Criminal Code s. 236(b)",
    "quote": "contrary to section 236(b) of the Criminal Code",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "plea": {
    "value": "Guilty",
    "quote": "Ms. Dermody has entered a guilty plea to the charge",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "sentence": {
    "value": "8 years incarceration, reduced by remand credit of 1.5:1 (1714 days go forward)",
    "quote": "Ms. Dermody is sentenced to a period of 8 years incarceration, to be reduced by remand credit of 1.5:1.",
    "para": "69"
   },
   "sentence_months": {
    "value": "96",
    "quote": "Ms. Dermody is sentenced to a period of 8 years incarceration",
    "para": "69"
   },
   "crown_position": {
    "value": "Joint recommendation of 8 years incarceration reduced by remand credit of 1.5:1",
    "quote": "The Crown and Defence have jointly recommended a sentence of 8 years incarceration reduced by remand credit of 1.5:1.",
    "para": "27"
   },
   "victim": {
    "value": "Natacha Leroy",
    "quote": "Natacha Leroy [LEROY] was 48-years-old.",
    "para": "2"
   },
   "victim_age": {
    "value": "48",
    "quote": "Natacha Leroy [LEROY] was 48-years-old.",
    "para": "2"
   },
   "relationship": {
    "value": "Offender had known the victim for most of her life; families well known to each other",
    "quote": "Dermody had known Leroy for most of her life.",
    "para": "2"
   },
   "criminal_record": {
    "value": "Extensive record including assaults, unlawful possession of firearms, dangerous driving, theft, mischief, and many breaches of court orders",
    "quote": "The record that has been tendered is extensive.",
    "para": "14"
   },
   "offender_age": {
    "value": "25 at time of offence",
    "quote": "In November 2023, Carolyn Ann Dermody [DERMODY] was 25 years old.",
    "para": "2"
   },
   "key_facts": {
    "value": "Stabbed the victim three times in the torso/abdomen; did not seek medical help; left the area and fled to Halifax; body concealed and fire set; victim was intoxicated and unarmed",
    "quote": "Dermody stabbed Leroy three times in the torso/abdomen in the area of vital organs",
    "para": "2"
   },
   "aggravating": {
    "value": "Callous, unprovoked and brutal attack; victim unarmed, intoxicated and vulnerable; fled without medical help and fled jurisdiction; offence committed while on probation and under a weapons prohibition order; history of violence",
    "quote": "The circumstances of this offence showed a callous and unprovoked level of violence",
    "para": "3"
   },
   "mitigating": {
    "value": "Guilty plea showing acceptance of responsibility, spared witnesses testifying, saved trial time; young age; some willingness to accept programming; difficult background of abuse and instability",
    "quote": "She entered a plea of guilty which is evidence of the acceptance of responsibility - it is a mitigating factor.",
    "para": "58"
   }
  }
 }
}