Rae-Edzo (Mar 27/06) - A man who broke into a neighbor’s home and stabbed three people as they slept will spend three years in a federal penitentiary.

Michael Mantla was described by Judge Michel Bourassa as being “a man on a march of madness armed with a knife.”

Bourassa handed down the sentence to Mantla in Yellowknife territorial court on March 21, rejecting the joint submission by Crown and defence lawyers that he receive two years less a day for stabbing three people.

“I find it difficult to accept that two years is within the range. The range for this kind of offence is not properly or meaningfully addressed.

On Aug. 30, without provocation, Mantla entered a neighbour’s home and stabbed the three occupants as they slept.

One man received stab wounds to the chest and abdomen and suffered significant blood loss; a woman had stab wounds to her head, including her ear and jaw and arms; and another man required surgery for abdominal wounds and bowel damage.

When police arrested Mantla, who has a history of mental illness, he told them “the devil came to him and told him he had to do something.”

While in RCMP cells overnight, Mantla was violent and aggressive, destroyed his mattress and told RCMP officers they deserved to die.

Judge Bourassa said as Mantla was under the influence of cocaine, alcohol and marijuana, “it’s a small wonder he heard the devil.”

“Thankfully police were able to interfere, but his rage had still not expired the next morning,” Bourassa said.

He also said that although Mantla served time in federal prison in the past, there was no indication that he was addressing his serious problems with drugs and alcohol.

“That no one was killed is a miracle. I conclude all the injuries were life threatening.

“Attacking a sleeping person is a life-threatening act,” Bourassa said in his judgement.

“There is no way of minimizing this.”

Mantla was given three years for each stabbing. The sentences will run concurrently.

A DNA order and firearms prohibition were also imposed.