A sentence of 10 years was handed to a man at the Moncton Law Courts Thursday morning in the stabbing death of a woman nearly two years ago.
Kyla LaPointe was stabbed multiple times on Belleview Avenue in east-end Moncton on July 11, 2023.
The 32-year-old mother of four girls later died in hospital.
Dylan Alexander Jackson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter.
The-30-year-old Doaktown, N.B., man was originally charged with second-degree murder, but that charge was reduced to manslaughter in December.
Judge Jean-Paul Ouellette accepted the joint recommendation of 10 years from the Crown prosecution and the defence.
Several members of LaPointe’s family were visibly upset and shouted their displeasure as court was adjourned.
“Of course I’m not happy,” said Nicole Blanchard, LaPointe’s mother. “I’m very disappointed in the justice system.”
Jackson will be credited with time served which equals two years, six months and three days.
LaPointe’s sister Jessica said she was incredibly disappointed with the sentencing.
“I’m absolutely full of rage and so is my family. We did not get justice today. Kyla didn’t get justice today,” said LaPointe.
Jessica LaPointe said going from a second-degree murder charge to manslaughter was a “blow” to the family.
“He got a 10-year sentence, but with time served he will have seven-and-a-half [years],” said LaPointe.
On Tuesday, the court heard victim impact statements, including one from LaPointe’s oldest daughter, and then Jackson apologized to the family.
Blanchard was asked if Jackson’s courtroom apology meant anything.
“Totally fake. From the first day we were in court he was smiling, blowing kisses at me to upset me. He never stopped. That was a totally fake apology,” said Blanchard.
Blanchard said LaPointe was “extremely loved” by her family.
“Just because a family member has struggles doesn’t mean they’re any less to the family,” said Blanchard. “And her four beautiful children, we have to bring up now.”
Blanchard said her daughter’s youngest was only 15 or 16 months old when her mother was killed.
“She’ll never have any of her own memories. We’ll have to make memories for her. That’s sad, extremely sad,” said Blanchard. “My daughter will never see her children again. She’ll never see all the milestones in their life.”
Jessica LaPointe said her sister’s four daughters are all still dealing with their mother’s death.
“They’re coping, like all of us,” she said. “They’re coping with the fact that they will miss their mother from then until the rest of their life. Just like all of us.”
In court Thursday, Judge Ouellette said the criminal offence often carries a sentence of prison. He called the killing unprovoked and closer to murder than an accident, saying the victim had no chance to defend herself and no steps were taken to help the victim after the stabbing.
Ouellette also spoke about Jackson’s history with the law, saying he had a criminal record going back to 2015.
Jackson is not permitted to possess any firearms or restricted weapons for life and cannot communicate directly or indirectly with any of the victim’s family while he is in custody.
Originally from Bathurst, Kyla LaPointe was living in Fredericton with her partner at the time of her death.
In a July 2023 interview with CTV News, Jessica LaPointe said her sister had difficulties navigating through life, but was an advocate for at-risk youth.
Jessica said Kyla was once on the committee for the New Brunswick Youth in Care Network, an organization that helps youth facing a variety of social challenges.
She said her sister was a strong, beautiful woman.
“If you looked at a picture of her, you would know that and it wasn’t just on the outside, it was on the inside as well,” said LaPointe. “She was beautiful, she was bright. She had a bright future.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Josh Smith
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