THUNDER BAY — Daniel Keefe has been found guilty of second-degree murder with the jury rejecting that Keefe stabbed Aiden Cunningham in self-defence.
Keefe was charged with second-degree murder in the June 25, 2022 death of 19-year-old Cunningham, after the two young men got into a physical altercation inside the door of Keefe’s Crown Street residence.
Cunningham was stabbed twice in the chest; one stab wound fatally struck his heart. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The jury returned with its verdict early Wednesday afternoon. They had begun deliberating around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The jury had three possible verdicts they could reach: not guilty of second-degree murder, not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of the included offence of manslaughter or guilty of second-degree murder.
The trial began on Feb. 4 and saw the Crown call three witnesses and the defence call one.
Closing submissions were heard on Monday with defence lawyer, George Joseph, urging the jury to remember Keefe’s words to the 911 operator – “He attacked me. I didn’t want to hurt him. I was too scared. I just didn’t want to get hurt.” Joseph also said the stabbings occurred only to end the violence.
Crown lawyer, Simon McNaughton, argued Keefe called 911 to get ahead of the situation and made up his story to appear sympathetic. He also suggested Keefe used the knife as a dramatic escalation in order to win the fight against Cunningham.
A sentencing date is expected to be set later this month.
A conviction of second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence without the eligibility for parole for at least 10 years. A sentencing hearing will determine when Keefe will be eligible for parole.
