Michael Robertson is guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of second-degree murder, a Saskatoon jury has found.
The jury of eight women and four men announced the verdict Thursday at the city’s Court of Queen’s Bench after 12 hours of deliberation.
Robertson was charged in the March 2015 death of Rocky Genereaux.
Genereaux died in hospital after he was found suffering from serious injuries at a home on the 400 block Avenue I South. The jury was tasked with sorting through evidence about what happened in one of the home’s bedrooms the night Genereaux was stabbed.
Robertson’s lawyer argued his client stabbed Genereaux in self-defence. Genereaux lunged at Robertson with a needle that was infected with HIV, he said.
The Crown cited testimony that no needle was found in the bedroom where the stabbing occurred, and said Genereaux had no motive to attack Roberston.
Roberston stabbed Genereaux over a dispute involving his cellphone, the Crown argued.
The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon. The verdict was reached at about noon Thursday.
Nicole Paddy, who was charged alongside Robertson in Genereaux’s death, pleaded guilty in March to being an accessory after the fact to aggravated assault. She was sentenced to time served.
The Crown indicated it will likely apply to have Robertson designated as a dangerous offender, which is expected to be discussed on Sept. 9. Sentencing arguments will be scheduled following that.
Robertson will remain in federal custody until he's sentenced.
