Former British soldier sentenced to four years for 'vicious, unprovoked' fatal bar beating
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A visiting U.K. soldier who killed a Manitoba businessman in a Toronto bar has been sentenced to 52 months in prison for manslaughter. Less credit for pre-trial custody, Craig Gibson has 49 months left to serve.
The Scotland-born Gibson, 30, was convicted by a jury last December of killing Brett Sheffield at the Locals Only bar on King St. on Aug. 27, 2023, rejecting his contention that he acted in self-defence.
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“The loss of Mr. Sheffield has devastated his family and friends,” said Superior Court Justice Katherine Corrick. “This was a vicious assault with tragic consequences.”
This wasn’t a “one-punch manslaughter” nor was it a bar fight, she said. “Mr. Gibson struck Mr. Sheffield three times in the head and continued trying to strike him until he was pulled away by others.”
Gibson had been in Thunder Bay for a competition with fellow soldiers and was visiting Toronto before flying home to Scotland. Sheffield and his colleagues were in the city for business. Both men met at the bar and security video showed them amicable until later in the night.
Gibson testified he was angry after Sheffield tried to get him to snort some of the cocaine he’d just bought from the bartender because he was subject to random drug tests and could lose his career. The Crown argued that he was actually furious Sheffield wouldn’t give him more of the drug — a motive the judge rejected.
But Corrick found the “strong and powerful” Gibson was intent on pursuing a violent confrontation – despite repeatedly being pulled away by his buddy and Sheffield ignoring his attempts to get him to take it outside to “settle their score.”
The judge said she took into consideration Gibson’s deeply remorse and his dishonourable discharged from the British Army on May 30, losing his pension and his dream of becoming an elite SAS soldier. The father of a baby daughter will also have to serve his time in a foreign country.
Corrick also noted the $10,000 loss Gibson suffered after the Canada Border Services Agency mistakenly stopped him from returning to Toronto in March for his sentencing hearing and the triple-bunking and full lockdown he’s had during his 12 days at Toronto South Detention Centre.
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