Lajray Gordon receives 7-and-a-half-year sentence for fatal stabbing in Saskatoon

Despite his claims of self-defence, Lajray Gordon has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for stabbing a man to death.

David Merasty wanted to better his life, his aunt said. (Saskatoon Police Service)Gordon came to blows with David Merasty on a Riversdale street in June 2016. He was charged with second-degree murder. Gordon never denied stabbing Merasty, but he claimed that he acted in self-defence and that he feared for his life.

"No matter how sorry he is for killing Mr. Merasty, he still committed manslaughter," Justice Grant Currie said while announcing his sentence in Saskatoon's Court of Queen's Bench Wednesday.

A jury found Gordon guilty of manslaughter Wednesday morning. Currie passed his sentence hours later. Gordon will serve six years due to 18 months credit for time he served on remand.

Gordon had a chance to speak before sentencing.

"I'm sorry to all family members impacted regarding my actions," he said.

"I never wanted this."

Elaine Corrigal, Merasty's aunt, said her nephew was 'always respectful'. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)

Elaine Corrigal, Merasty's aunt, came to court every day during the eight-day trial. She said characterizations of her nephew that emerged from witnesses simply didn't jibe with her memories.

"He was always respectful; he was very respectful. Asked me first if it was OK to come over for holidays or something. He'd phone ahead of time, before it was even Christmas, so that's how David was to me," she said.

She said that they often spoke of the drugs and violence in the city. She said that he had no interest in gangs or fighting, and would often just walk away from confrontations.

He wanted to better his life, she said.

"He would say, 'Auntie, I'm looking for a job and he'd come and call me, looking for a job, and I want to take more classes on other stuff. I want to keep on going to school,' he said, and be something, be a person in the workforce," Corrigal said.