**Manitoba Man Receives Reduced Sentence for Manslaughter** A Manitoba man has had his prison sentence reduced by one year after being convicted of manslaughter for fatally stabbing an acquaintance during an altercation over a missing cellphone. Dean Richard Bell, 31, pleaded guilty to the charge stemming from the incident that occurred on January 13, 2024, in Swan River, Manitoba.

Provincial court Judge Geoffrey H. Bayly stated that he would typically impose an eight-year sentence. However, he considered Bell's Indigenous status and his actions in taking the victim to the hospital as mitigating factors. "I believe that the Gladue factors relevant to this offender mitigate his moral culpability," Bayly wrote. He ultimately decided on a jointly recommended sentence of seven years in custody.

The Gladue principles, established by a Supreme Court of Canada ruling over 25 years ago, require judges to consider the unique circumstances of Indigenous offenders, including the historical impacts of colonialism and systemic issues that contribute to their over-representation in the criminal justice system.

During the sentencing, Judge Bayly described Bell as the aggressor in the confrontation with Calvin Chartrand, stating that he escalated the conflict by using a knife. The judge characterized the attack as unprovoked and preemptive, noting that Bell and his half-brother engaged in a two-on-one assault against Chartrand, who was unarmed and vulnerable.

Despite these factors, Bayly acknowledged that Bell's Indigenous background and his history of trauma and victimization suggested a lower degree of culpability. He emphasized the importance of considering the systemic disadvantages faced by Indigenous individuals when assessing culpability.

The events leading to the stabbing began days before Chartrand's death when he asked Bell to leave a home they were at together. Bell refused, leading to a confrontation. On the day of the incident, Bell was drinking beer and playing video games with his half-brother, Tyrone Guiboche, when they encountered Chartrand and his girlfriend on Main Street.

After a verbal confrontation regarding the missing cellphone, Bell produced a knife and stabbed Chartrand twice—once in the face and once in the left buttock. The second stab wound proved fatal, severing an artery. Following the attack, Bell and Guiboche took Chartrand to the hospital, where he later died from internal bleeding.

Bell later told police that he acted in self-defense, claiming Chartrand had threatened him and taken his cellphone. The judge noted Bell's troubled background, including strained family relationships and a history of substance abuse.

Bell has faced significant personal challenges, including the loss of family members and struggles with addiction. He reported daily alcohol consumption starting at age 18 and began using drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine in his mid-20s.

In a related matter, Guiboche, who was wanted for manslaughter, was recently apprehended by police after a brief foot chase. He now faces additional charges, including resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.

The case highlights ongoing discussions about the treatment of Indigenous offenders within the Canadian justice system and the complexities surrounding sentencing in cases involving historical and systemic factors.