Family was ready to pick up Jeremy Hank Clause for his father’s birthday celebration on Oct. 22, 2022 but was entertained to the Hamilton General with news Clause had been stabbed.
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The 25-year-old died before his family could arrive.
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“They said he didn’t make it. It was the worst day of my life,” said his mother, Carol Sherry, at the sentencing hearing of the man now convicted of Clause’s death.
Nicholas Craig, 24, a man who had just met Clause, admitted in Brantford’s Superior Court of Justice on Wednesday that he argued with Clause during a visit, and then stabbed him in the side of his chest.
The knife punctured Clause’s heart. Craig ran off.
Brantford Police responded to the Cayuga Street violence and publicized a description of Craig, who was wearing a Burberry-style jacket, Louis Vuitton brand shirt, Nike track pants and red Nike shoes.
A citizen quickly called in a sighting of the man, reporting he was standing on the road and crying.
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Charged with second-degree murder, Craig pleaded guilty in court to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Clause’s mother said her son was a father of a four-year-old at the time of his death, and did odd jobs when he could since medical issues kept him from being able to drive or use heavy equipment.
Sherry said she was hurt by the deal that saw Craig plead down to manslaughter and concerned that a Gladue report, prepared to inform Justice Harrison Arrell about Craig’s Indigenous background, will reduce his sentence even further.
“He’s already getting a break as far as I’m concerned. My boy didn’t get a break.”
The case will return to court next month to set a date for sentencing.
@EXPSGamble
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