Ont. man sentenced to time served for manslaughter in 2023 Collingwood stabbing

Warning: This article contains details that may be disturbing and triggering to readers.

Ont. man sentenced to time served for manslaughter in 2023 Collingwood stabbing after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Jeffrey Young, 46, walked out of the Barrie courthouse Thursday afternoon following the sentencing hearing before Justice Laura Bird in the Superior Court of Justice.

The family of Dustin Leblond were incensed by the joint submission between the Crown and defence that was ultimately accepted by the Barrie judge. “The system has failed, again, for sure,” said Josh Leblond. “It has affected my whole family, it will forever. So, the fact that this is ‘our justice’ that we got. You know, pardon my French, but it’s pretty f*****d up.”

Young admitted during his guilty plea in September 2025 that he stabbed and killed his 33-year-old friend in Collingwood at his Matthew Way apartment June 2, 2023, following an argument between Young and his partner that broke out about Young’s deepening drug abuse.

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As part of the Agreed Statement of Facts put on the court record, the Crown said Young was heavily intoxicated and sleep deprived for four days. High on fentanyl and crack cocaine and being kicked out of the apartment, Young called Leblond to help him. When Leblond arrived at the apartment, the court heard Leblond punched Young twice in the face, breaking his orbital bone.

Young was then seen swinging a knife, stabbing Leblond once in the heart. He did not help Leblond and was arrested when police arrived. Originally charged with second-degree murder, Young was granted bail last April after nearly two years behind bars.

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The Crown had initially sought six to seven years in prison, while the defence asked the court to consider a conditional sentence to be served in the community. That request changed Thursday when the Crown and defence proposed a joint submission of a four-year sentence less extra credit for time spent in jail under harsh lockdown conditions and further credit for restrictive conditions while Young was out on bail.

The Crown told the court Young’s killing of Leblond was “as close to an accident as one can get,” saying there was no premeditation, animus, or hostility between the two men, thus resulting in a fit sentence of time served.

After breaking his leg in his 20s, the defence told the court, Young became addicted to painkillers and opiates, and later, when Young’s relationship with the mother of his children ended, his drug issues resurfaced. The court heard Young also has earlier convictions for assault and robbery.

Lawyer Jeffrey Fisher told the court Young completed counselling for his addiction issues, saying Young was remorseful and did not mean to stab Leblond.

Young chose not to address the court when given the opportunity by Justice Bird.

As part of his sentence Young is placed on probation for 12 months and is banned from having weapons on him for life.