CALGARY – One of two teenagers charged in the 2014 second-degree murder of Gabriel Okeynan pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter Tuesday.
Okeynan, 45, was found in medical distress outside Calgary’s Marlborough Mall on June 20, 2014. He was stabbed once in the back of his leg and a second time in his lower back.
READ MORE: Murder investigation launched after man dies following mall stabbing
The two teens accused with murder were set to begin trial Tuesday.
The now-14-year-old who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as well as the second teen accused in the case, cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
CCTV video at the Marlborough LRT station shows the victim and two young people. The three people are seen heading east towards Applewood Village apartments in the 3800 block of Marlborough Drive N.E. The video then shows the victim walking alone outside the mall. He was later found lying face down in a pool of blood in a smoking break shelter outside a Walmart.
READ MORE: Bail denied for teen accused in Marlborough Mall stabbing death
Police followed a trail of blood and believe Okeynan was stabbed outside the apartment complex, then walked to the nearby mall.
In an agreed statement of facts, the teen admits to telling a cousin he stabbed a “hobo.”
Before the victim died, he told police the teens had wanted to go for a beer with him, and hit him with some sort of club once they left the train station. He told police they robbed him and stabbed him.
Court heard the teen did not intend to kill the victim, but did participate in the assault and robbery that led to his death.
The second teen accused in the case will proceed to trial Wednesday.
With files from Erika Tucker
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