Self-defence reason for stabbing: accused

Hurt one, did not kill the other, defendant tells court

By Mike McIntyre
A YOUNG man on trial for killing an Ontario visitor outside a Winnipeg hotel has taken the witness stand in his
own defence.
The accused, who was 17 at the time and cant be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has pleaded
not guilty to second-degree murder for the February 2012 incident that left 18-year-old Wahbishkanacot Eli
Mandamin dead. He is also charged with aggravated assault for stabbing a friend of Mandamins.
This is a clear and compelling case of self-defence with regards to the aggravated assault. And a case of
innocence with respect to murder, defence lawyer Martin Glazer told jurors Monday, after the Crown closed its
case.
Glazer put his now 20-year-old client on the stand to describe what occurred at the Canad Inns Polo Park. The
man told jurors he was partying that night with several friends when they were verbally accosted by Mandamin
and his friends. The accused said one of his friends, Raymond Baker, got into a physical battle with Mandamin
as the dispute went from a lounge area to outside the hotel.
They were exchanging words and swearing at each other, the accused said. He claims one of Mandamins
friends attacked him, putting him in a headlock and making it difficult to breathe.
He was choking me, he said. He was bigger and stronger. Thats when the accused said he pulled out a
knife and stabbed the man twice in the shoulder area to allow him to escape.
I decided to stab him because he wouldnt let go, he said.
The accused said he then fled the scene while Baker and Mandamin were still fighting. He denies laying a hand
on Mandamin and said he returned to the hotel a short time later to find out Mandamin was dead.
Baker, 22, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to four years. He testified last week,
telling jurors he was the one who inflicted the fatal wounds on Mandamin.
Mandamins girlfriend also took the stand, saying Baker and the youth accused instigated the violence that
night. Mandamin was visiting Winnipeg with her because she was pregnant and had come to the city for an
ultrasound appointment.
Video surveillance captured the confrontation between the men just prior to the stabbing, which occurred
slightly out of camera range.
Mandamins father, Eli, is the chief of Iskatewizaagegan First Nation. Family members have travelled to
Winnipeg for the trial, which is expected to end with jury deliberations later this week.
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