Sentencing Nears for Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Manslaughter in Dartmouth Stabbing
Jamie Duckenfield, 36, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the October 2023 stabbing death of Ben Clattenburg, 27, in Dartmouth. The Crown has recommended nine to ten years in prison, while the defence argued for seven years.
Jamie Duckenfield, 36, is nearing sentencing after pleading guilty on Jan. 7 to manslaughter in the death of 27-year-old Ben Clattenburg. Clattenburg died from a single stab wound to the left side of his chest following an incident on Oct. 16, 2023, in the 200 block of Portland Street in Dartmouth.
According to the facts presented during the recent sentencing hearing at the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax, the altercation began when Clattenburg kicked Duckenfield out of a vehicle during a disagreement. A physical fight followed, during which Duckenfield stabbed Clattenburg once. Halifax Regional Police apprehended Duckenfield shortly afterward in a parking lot at 47 Portland St. He has been incarcerated since the day of the incident. Four days later, investigators recovered an 11.5-centimetre knife at the corner of Dundas and Portland streets. Forensic investigators determined the blade had blood containing Clattenburg’s DNA on it.
During the hearing, the Crown recommended a sentence of nine to 10 years, citing Duckenfield's 34 previous convictions as evidence of a pattern of escalating dangerous behaviour. The defence suggested seven years would be appropriate, arguing that Duckenfield acted partly in self-defence after being punched and kicked in the head. The defence described the fight as chaotic and disputed the depth of the stab, suggesting it may have been a "jab" with low force resulting in a two-centimetre depth, while the Crown and forensic evidence indicated it could have been a vigorous stab up to eight or nine centimetres deep.
Victim impact statements read during the proceedings described the family's world as having "changed" and falling apart due to the loss. Justice John Bodurtha scheduled his sentencing decision for Dec. 21, though he noted he hopes to find an earlier opportunity to announce the ruling.