Kevin Mantla has been found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend's partner, an N.W.T. Supreme Court judge in Yellowknife ruled on Thursday morning.
Mantla, from Gameti, N.W.T., had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault in connection with a Sept. 27, 2015 attack in a Yellowknife apartment that left Elvis Lafferty dead and his girlfriend severely injured with multiple stab wounds.
On Thursday morning, N.W.T. Supreme Court Justice Louise Charbonneau found Mantla, 38, guilty of second-degree murder in Lafferty's death and attempted murder for the attack on his ex-girlfriend.
Mantla didn't show any signs of emotion as the verdict was delivered.
Charbonneau said she wasn't satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mantla's attack was fully planned as it followed an argument with his ex-girlfriend. Charbonneau said Mantla may have only meant to confront or intimidate the couple rather than to kill them.
Defence argued it was jealous rage
During the two-week trial, prosecutor Blair MacPherson argued that Mantla committed the crimes in a jealous rage after learning that his ex-girlfriend was with Lafferty. Video evidence showed that Mantla flew from Gameti to Yellowknife the day before the attack.
Mantla's ex-girlfriend, who cannot be identified because of a publication ban, testified that in phone calls the day leading up to the attack Mantla threatened to go after her and Lafferty, then followed through on his threats that night.
Defence lawyer Charles Davison suggested the ex-girlfriend's testimony about the calls and about the attack should not be believed.
Davison pointed out that she testified there was no drinking at the apartment the night of the attack, but Lafferty's parents testified they were all consuming alcohol. Davison also said there were inconsistencies between her testimony during the trial and what she told police shortly after the attack.
Prosecutor MacPherson said two children who were in the apartment that night were the strongest Crown witnesses as they were the only ones whose perceptions were not clouded by alcohol. He said they both identified Mantla, who they knew, as the assailant.