Former Halifax bouncer convicted of manslaughter released on conditions ahead of appeal

Alexander Pishori Levy is escorted by sheriffs into a Court of Appeal hearing. (Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic)

A former Halifax bouncer who was convicted of manslaughter in the death of a bar patron has been granted release with conditions ahead of his appeal in October.

Last month, Alexander Pishori Levy, 40, was sentenced to four years in custody for manslaughter and criminal negligence in connection to the death of Ryan Sawyer on Christmas Eve in 2022.

Levy launched an appeal of the conviction this month and on Thursday he was granted release with conditions ahead of his hearing on Oct. 13.

The release order’s conditions include:

• keep the peace and be of good behaviour
• stay on property from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, excluding regularly scheduled employment and attending the hospital for a medical emergency
• attend court when directed
• not consume alcohol or drugs
• do not work in any bar, nightclub or place whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol
• do not possess any firearm, crossbow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition or explosive substance

Levy’s appeal claims the trial judge erred by failing to consider evidence “material to the elements of manslaughter and the justification of self-defence.”

The document says Levy is seeking the convictions be set aside and acquittals entered, or a new trial be ordered, or the current sentence be changed to an 18-month conditional sentence.

At the trial, Levy testified that he squeezed Sawyer’s neck for 10 to 15 seconds, but the Crown argued it was closer to two minutes.

Sawyer, 31, died in hospital on Dec. 24, 2022.

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