A Saskatoon man has been found guilty of manslaughter after a night of drinking ended in a fatal altercation with a man he considered a friend. In a decision delivered Monday, provincial court Judge Inez Cardinal found Timothy Smith instigated the fight that led to the death of 37-year-old Landon Waddell and did not act in self-defence. Cardinal said Smith knew his actions were likely to cause harm. She noted her ruling would be “fairly lengthy” as she reviewed the evidence presented during the trial. Court heard Smith, Waddell and a mutual friend, Coady Boyer-Lafond, had been drinking together at a home in the 400 block of 26th Street West in November 2024. Cardinal found Smith accused Waddell of taking his knuckle dusters and that he later initiated a confrontation by threatening to steal Waddell’s watch. According to Boyer-Lafond’s testimony, Waddell grabbed Smith’s shirt before Smith punched him twice and kicked him as he fell to the floor, causing Waddell to strike his head on a coffee table. Evidence showed Waddell had a bump on his right forehead and shoe-print marks on his chest consistent with Smith’s footwear. A forensic pathologist testified that Waddell died from a concussion caused by blunt-force trauma to the head, combined with extreme alcohol intoxication. Cardinal found even if the concussion came from the fall, Waddell would not have fallen without being punched and kicked by Smith. Responding officers testified they found Waddell lying on the floor, grey and cold to the touch, with no pulse. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Smith initially told police an unknown person had broken into the home, assaulted Waddell and fled. He later admitted he lied because he panicked. Cardinal rejected Smith’s testimony that Waddell was throwing punches wildly, describing his account as not credible and self-serving. She found Smith had a significant height and weight advantage and was sober, while Waddell was heavily intoxicated. Smith’s sentencing date has not yet been set. Outside the courthouse, Waddell’s family said the verdict brought a sense of relief. “Today is an amazing day, and I’m just so glad that justice is served,” said Jessie Heidt, the mother of Waddell’s child. Heidt said Waddell’s death had a lasting impact on his family, adding his daughter lost her best friend. “He was a hard worker, an amazing dad, loved his family so much and would give the shirt off his back to anyone,” she said.
