A man from the Tlicho community of Gameti, charged with murder in the death of Archie Wedzin in Behchoko last year, has now pleaded to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Alecus Quitte, 22, entered the plea in Supreme Court in Yellowknife on Monday morning.
According to his lawyer, Quitte has abandoned his attempt to plead self-defence.
The Crown prosecutor in the case said it was in the public’s interest to accept the lesser plea.
It was not described in court as a plea deal.
Court heard that back on April 7 of last year, Quitte, a female friend of Quitte’s and the 59-year-old Wedzin were partying at Wedzin’s home in Behchoko when there was a dispute and Wedzin tried to kick out Quitte.
That led Quitte to stab Wedzin twice in the neck – severing his jugular vein which caused his death, court heard.
Court heard the fatal wound was 15 centimetres deep and nine centimetres long.
Both Quitte and the woman attempted to conceal the crime by discarding their bloody clothing and getting rid of the knife.
Quitte was arrested and charged with Wedzin’s murder a week later.
She was never charged.
His sentencing hearing is to be held in Behchoko on April 16, almost exactly one year after he was arrested and charged.
Quitte remains in custody.
There is no minimum sentence for manslaughter while the maximum is life in prison with no definitive length before parole eligibility.
