Calgary teen convicted of manslaughter in stabbing of 'easygoing' homeless man

A Calgary teenager charged with second-degreemurder has been found guilty of the lesser offence ofmanslaughter in the stabbing ofa homeless man.

Gabriel Okeynan, 45, was attacked near Marlborough Mall in June2014. He was beaten, stabbed and robbed.

His family was in court to hear the decision.They want Okeynan remembered as more than a victim.

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"He was always laughing, joking around. He was easygoing," said Okeynan's sister, Brenda Peigan. "He was a nice man and he did not deserve this."

He was a nice man and he did not deserve this.-BrendaPeigan,GabrielOkeynan's sister

In June, 2014, a Walmart employee found Okeynan unconscious, face down in a pool of blood and suffering from stab wounds to his thigh and back.

Police determined he had been stabbed and beaten a few blocks away. He died in hospital three days later. Two boys who were 13 and 16 years old at the time, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

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"He was always laughing,joking around. He was easygoing," saidOkeynan'ssister, BrendaPeigan."He was a nice man and he did not deserve this."

Two boys who were 13 and 16 years old at the time, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Theycan't be namedunder provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Other teen's sentencing hearing this afternoon

The younger teen pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month. His sentencing hearing will takeplace this afternoon.

"This was a group attack," said Justice ScottBrooker in his decision. "A joint endeavour."

Booker also convicted the teenof robbery. At the time of hisarrest, he was found with several of the victim's personal items,including his backpack and a DVD player.

His lawyer, Jim Lutz, says when it comes time for sentencing, he will be proposing time-served for his client, meaning he would not spend any more time in custody.

Judge skeptical of accused's story

During the older teen'strial, the boy who has a severe cognitive disability and an IQ of 45,testified in his own defencetelling the judgehe kicked the victim twice"gently"in the shoulder but said he never stabbed Okeynan.

"This all sounds terribly convenient. I do not believe it," Brookersaid of the boy's story.

Before Okeynan died, he was able to tell police that several teens he met outside the MarlboroughLRTstation asked him to go for a beer with them.

He said he was hit with some sort of club before being stabbed and robbed of his backpack.

That's one of the aspects of this case that bothers Okeynan's uncle Derwinthe mostthat he was killed over such a small,material item.

"I don't like it," he said. "They took somebody away from me and there's nothing that can ever erase that feeling."