Orillia man who stabbed, killed Ramara Twp. man seeks extra credit for harsh jail conditions

Orillia man who stabbed, killed Ramara Twp. man seeks extra credit for harsh jail conditions

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An Orillia, Ont. man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing and killing a man following a fist fight on a rural property in Ramara Twp. two years ago, appeared in court seeking extra credit for time served in jail under harsh conditions.

Christopher Scully, 56, was convicted in July of the unlawful killing of Fabian Crawford, 48, on November 11, 2023, at Crawford’s property where several men lived in units including trailers.

• Orillia man pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2023 Ramara Twp. stabbing

Scully, admitted to inexplicably stabbing Crawford in the abdomen and piercing his liver. Crawford died in his wife’s arms, the court heard.

The defence argued Scully should receive extra credit for spending more than 700 days at Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, where he has been subjected to harsh conditions including more than 200 days of lockdowns and being triple bunked with other inmates.

The court heard, as part of an Agreed Statement of Facts read during his guilty plea, Scully and Crawford, who were known to one another, got into a fight over repairs on a truck on the rural property. When the men separated briefly following the fist fight, Scully admitted he pulled out his six-inch hunting knife and stabbed Crawford.

• Crown seeks 8 years for Orillia man convicted of manslaughter in fist fight-turned-stabbing

The Crown said following his arrest, Scully told police he had a headache and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Scully was given extra strength Advil to ease the pain and taken to jail. The defence maintains Scully was dealing with a traumatic brain injury.

Crawford, according to loved ones, was a respected small business owner and family man who had two young daughters.

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Scully was initially charged with second-degree murder, which would have carried a life sentence had he been convicted of murder, rather than the lesser offence of manslaughter.

The defence has asked Scully receive a five-year sentence; less time served in custody ahead of his sentencing hearing. The Crown wants Scully sentenced to eight years behind bars.

Justice Michelle Fuerst is scheduled to sentence Scully in December.