Calgary man who killed neighbour sentenced to 7 years in prison

CALGARY – A man who killed his neighbour in a drunken dispute was sentenced to seven years behind bars on Friday.

Nicholas Rasberry, 32, was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Craig Kelloway, 31, who was stabbed to death inside Rasberry’s Auburn Bay home in May 2013.

Rasberry had been out on bail for two years but was re-arrested on Thursday for impaired driving. He was charged with one count of breach of condition and given a 24 hour licence suspension after allegedly failing a breathalyzer test.

READ MORE: Killer Nicholas Rasberry arrested for breaching bail condition, accused of impaired driving

During the trial, Rasberry admitted to stabbing Kelloway 37 times, but said it was self defence after Kelloway threatened to sexually assault both him and his wife.

Rasberry and Kelloway lived two doors apart but hadn’t met until the day Kelloway was killed.

The two men and their wives had gotten together for drinks and a barbecue. Later that night, Rasberry called 911 saying he had stabbed Kelloway. He told the operator that Kelloway had tried to have sex with him after their wives had gone to bed.

While reading his decision, Justice Robert Hall reminded the court of his findings that the crown failed to disprove provocation in this case, but went on to say this was not near self defence. He said the use of three knives by Rasberry was a substantial aggravating factor.

With credit for time served, Rasberry has five years and four months left to serve.

The Crown has since appealed Rasberry’s conviction, seeking either a retrial or a conviction of the greater offence of second-degree murder.

READ MORE: Court shown video of crime scene knives during Rasberry murder trial

– With files from Nancy Hixt