Yellowknife (Aug 27/03) - A 24-year-old Yellowknife man pleaded guilty to manslaughter as relatives of the victim fought to hold back tears yesterday in Supreme Court.

Derek Jason Sangris agreed to the plea bargain in the stabbing death of Eddie Paul Beyonnie after Crown attorney Sadie Bond withdrew a charge of second-degree murder.

"It cannot be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had the (intention of committing murder)," said Bond.

Bond and defence lawyer James Brydon reached the plea bargain just days before Sangris was set to go on trial.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Sangris stabbed Beyonnie twice after a night of heavy drinking in Ndilo on July 12, 2002. One of the blows punctured Beyonnie's ribcage and severed a pulmonary artery, causing the victim's lung to fill up with blood.

Beyonnie was rushed to Stanton Territorial Hospital, but died a short time after.

On Tuesday, the courtroom was packed with about 50 spectators, including several members of Beyonnie's family who read victim impact statements to the court.

"I cried for hours," said Beyonnie's sister Pauline after she heard her brother had died.

"It felt like someone ripped my heart out and stomped on it over and over again. I feel like that every time I hear the Derek Sangris' name."

Beyonnie's mother, Agnes, also addressed the court. "I always think about how he's lying in a coffin in the ground and the kid who did this to him is still alive."

Agnes Beyonnie said her son, who had just graduated from Grade 12, planned to attend an arts school in Edmonton with his girlfriend.

Making matters more difficult, Pauline Beyonnie said her family received a letter just last week from the same school asking for an interview with Eddie Paul.

"We had to explain to them why he couldn't be reached," she said, choking back tears.

Sangris, seated in the prisoner's box, wept during the statements made by Beyonnie's relatives.

"With all due respect (the family) if there is one person in the court who wishes this didn't happen it is the accused," said Brydon.

Brydon said that Sangris, who's blood alcohol level may have been as high as .20, didn't intend to kill Beyonnie during the drunken struggle.

"He was not in tune with what happened that night. He was simply too drunk."

According to the agreed statement of facts, Sangris had been involved in a scuffle earlier in the evening with Beyonnie and two other friends.

Sangris then went home, and according to his brother Archie, opened a kitchen drawer.

Soon after he was spotted heading back to Beyonnie's house with a shiny object in his hand.

Bond said Beyonnie and Sangris met in an open lot and exchanged several blows before Sangris stabbed Beyonnie once in the arm and once in the chest. The fatal wound was 18 centimetres deep and chipped one of Beyonnie's ribs.

"I can't say there was planning, but there was forethought as muddled as it may have been by alcohol," said Bond.

Bond recommended that Justice Edward Richard sentence Sangris to six to eight years in prison, while Brydon suggested a sentence of four to seven years.

Richard is expected to pass sentence today.