THUNDER BAY - A man who admitted responsibility for the 2020 stabbing death of 29-year-old Paul Vivier will be sentenced early next month, while a youth involved has since pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has been sentenced to time served.
Denis Terry Bernard appeared before Justice Vince Scaramuzza in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Monday where he pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter in connection to Vivier’s death.
According to the agreed statement of facts read into the court record, the incident took place in a Cumberland Street motel on May 30, 2020 just after 10 p.m. when the Thunder Bay Police Service received multiple 911 calls regarding a male who had been stabbed.
Responding officers arriving on the scene located the male, later identified as Vivier of Victoria, B.C., near the stairwell on the third floor and observed a large amount of blood on the floor and hallway walls. Several females were also on the scene attempting to revive Vivier, who had a weak pulse and shallow breathing.
Vivier was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for treatment but was pronounced dead a short time later.
The cause of death was determined to be a single stab wound to the heart.
According to witnesses in the area, Vivier was assaulted by three males, including Bernard, Seandi Clarke-Noel of Whitby, Ont., and a 16-year-old Toronto youth who were heard asking him about money relating to a drug debt.
Bernard was given a knife and directed to stab Vivier and he did so once in the chest. There were numerous witnesses to the assault who identified Bernard as the one who stabbed Vivier. The knife was not recovered by police.
There was a finding of guilt by Justice Scaramuzza based on Bernard’s plea.
A joint sentencing submission was to be presented on Monday by the Crown and defense counsel, Tyler Woods, however, Woods asked that it be adjourned until April to allow Bernard an opportunity to take care of a family matter before receiving a penitentiary sentence in a federal institution.
Justice Scaramuzza granted the adjournment and sentencing will take place on April 6, 2022, where a victim impact statement will also be presented to the court. Bernard remains in custody.
The youth involved pleaded guilty to manslaughter in August 2021 and was sentenced to nine months pre-sentence custody, as well as two years probation. The youth was also required to submit a DNA sample and is subject to a 10-year weapons prohibition.
Clarke-Noel, 19-years-old at the time of the offence, was also charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role in Vivier’s death and he is to make his next court appearance later this month.
