THUNDER BAY - A Toronto-area man originally charged with second-degree murder in connection to the 2017 death of 21-year-old Edmond Clovis has pleaded guilty to two lesser charges.
Michael Cleghorn appeared in a Thunder Bay courtroom via telephone from the Maplehurst Correctional Complex on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of breaking and entering and one count of assault.
The incident took place on May 22, 2017 in the 300 block of Marks Street South. Cleghorn and two other individuals entered a residence and an altercation took place in the foyer involving Clovis, who was later found severely injured and died in hospital as a result of his injuries. The other individuals have never been identified.
Cleghorn was determined to be a suspect by the Thunder Bay Police Service and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest. In August 2019, Cleghorn was also wanted on an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting a woman and stealing a police cruiser in Mississauga.
In November 2019, Cleghorn was arrested by Peel Regional Police and charged with second-degree murder in connection to Clovis’ death.
A preliminary hearing for Cleghorn was held in June where evidence was presented to the court of the incident. The evidence submitted during the preliminary hearing is still subject to a publication ban until sentencing is complete.
During his court appearance in Thunder Bay on Thursday, Cleghorn was arraigned on charges of breaking and entering and assault, to which he pleaded guilty.
“By virtue of the plea, Mr. Cleghorn is admitting he is the individual who came into the residence and struck Mr. Clovis,” said Crown attorney Andrew Sadler.
“By virtue of the pleas to these offences opposed to that which he was originally charged, the Crown is not establishing any criminal liability for Mr. Clovis’s subsequent stabbing and subsequent death.”
Sadler said the Crown will be withdrawing the charge of second-degree murder upon the completion of sentencing on the new charges of breaking and entering and assault.
A sentencing hearing will take place on Nov. 8. The Crown and defense counsel for Cleghorn are anticipating a joint submission on some aspects of the sentencing though may differ on other aspects. A pre-sentence report was not ordered by the defense counsel.
Cleghorn was remanded into custody.
A spokesperson with the Thunder Bay Police Service said the investigation into the death of Clovis remains open, however, because there are matters related to the case before the courts, no additional details can be provided.
