The lawyer representing a Calgary-area youth convicted of manslaughter in a fatal botched robbery argued in court that his client would already be free if prosecutors had accepted an early plea offer. Defence counsel Adriano Iovinelli revealed that he proposed a reduced manslaughter charge early in the case, but Crown prosecutor Carla MacPhail rejected the deal.
Courtroom Arguments Over Sentencing
During Wednesday's proceedings before Justice Gary Cornfield, Iovinelli contended that the prosecution's refusal forced his client to endure a trial where he was vigorously cross-examined about the events leading to Jordan Jacques-Vetten's death. The victim was fatally shot on September 9, 2023, on a quiet northwest residential street in Calgary.
Crown prosecutor Scott Wilson countered that despite the youth spending over two years in custody, additional imprisonment remains necessary. Both legal teams agreed the offender should receive the maximum youth sentence for manslaughter—three years—but disputed how that time should be served.
Death Threats and Witness Testimony
Iovinelli disclosed that his client has received at least four death threats since testifying against alleged gunman Robert Joseph Matthews. "My client's getting messaged that because he testified 'you're gonna be killed,'" the lawyer told the court. He argued the Crown effectively placed a target on his client's back by calling him as a "star" witness in Matthews' trial after attempting to discredit his version of events.
Matthews is currently awaiting a verdict on a second-degree murder charge for Jacques-Vetten's death, with his defence counsel Rebecca Snukal arguing for a manslaughter conviction instead.
Sentencing Disagreement and Rehabilitation
Wilson advocated for a sentence comprising two years in custody followed by one year under community supervision, with no credit for time already served. Iovinelli, however, insisted the more than two years already spent behind bars should count toward the three-year maximum, leaving less than ten months for non-custodial supervision.
The defence lawyer noted that officials at the Calgary Young Offenders Centre indicated his client would be transferred to an adult facility if sentenced to more than an additional two to four months in custody. He also revealed the youth was deemed suitable for an Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision program but has aged out of eligibility.
Had the original plea deal been accepted, Iovinelli asserted his client could have completed the custodial portion of the rehabilitation program and would now be serving the community supervision phase. Justice Cornfield acquitted the youth of second-degree murder, convicting him only of manslaughter, and will deliver the sentence next week.
