Chad Beck was found guilty of second degree murder for killing 27-year-old Cameron Sayine with an axe.
The incident took place in Fort Resolution at a Canada Day gathering in 2018.
Beck, 33, pled guilty to manslaughter, but the crown rejected the plea asking for second-degree murder.
Beck’s lawyer, Peter Harte, argued Beck had been bullied by Sayine for years.
Court heard that Sayine had even assaulted Beck earlier that day, leaving him with cuts and bruises on his face.
Harte argued Beck didn’t have a criminal past and was a respected member of the community.
Harte also argued the impact of alcohol would’ve affected Beck’s judgement.
However, Justice Shannon Smallwood ruled Beck was not too drunk to understand his actions.
CBC reported Justice Smallwood also ruled this wasn’t a split second decision, as he had time to pick up an axe and commit the violent act.
At the Yellowknife courthouse on Friday, she clarified her decision for Harte explaining even if Beck had not intended to kill Sayine, he was aware that swinging an axe could cause enough harm to be fatal.
Second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with parole eligibility between 10 and 25 years.
Beck will be sentenced on Sept. 22 and 23.
