Read the full story in the March 8 paper of The Interior News.
Just over a week before what should have been Francis Namox Jr.’s 30th birthday, the man responsible for his death was sentenced to four years prison in Smithers B.C. Supreme Court Friday.
Kelly Andrew Johnson was given two months pre-trial credit, meaning the rest of his federal prison sentence is three years, two months. The defence had been asking for provincial custody of two years less a day followed by three years probation.
Johnson pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the day his trial was scheduled to begin in November. He was originally charged with second-degree murder.
The sentence followed an emotional victim impact statement by Namox’s mother Martina Joseph. The courtroom was filled with sobs as Joseph read the suffering she and her family have gone through since her son’s death. Namox’s five-year-old son was standing beside her as his mother and Namox’s partner put a hand on Joseph’s shoulder in support and comfort.
Johnson was among those weeping in the courtroom during the powerful statement by the victim’s mother. He would also himself give a statement before court ended for the first day of sentencing proceedings Thursday, apologizing for his actions.
The courtroom was filled by both the victim and perpetrator’s families. Namox’s family gathered outside the courtroom after hearing the sentence Friday. Family and friends spoke of their suffering, but also of the need to heal both as a family and as a community. Many of Namox and Johnson’s family are from Moricetown.
The issue of alcoholism was a theme during those speeches among the two dozen gathered inside the front doors of the government building on the end of Main Street. Alcohol would play a major role in what happened inside that Main Street apartment the night of Feb. 7, 2014.
What happened
A few friends had gathered that Friday afternoon to have some drinks and watch movies. Namox would arrive in the evening and a party started. Johnson was still at work as a line chef in a Smithers restaurant when Namox arrived to the apartment.
Three of the partiers left to get more alcohol and brought Johnson with them after he finished his shift. Johnson bought his fateful bottle of rum at 9:30 p.m. He was carrying a backpack that held the knives he used for work, which court heard he was told to bring home with him.
People partied. A few went to bed, and others passed out. Then there was 45 minutes of chaos.
At 11:30 p.m., Namox awoke. He and Johnson started arguing about the last few ounces of alcohol left. Witnesses said they stood in a circle with others as the argument escalated.
Johnson went to his backpack in the doorway, opened it and grabbed a knife.
When he grabbed the knife, Namox then pulled out a small knife that fit in his palm. Johnson stabbed Namox one time in the side of his chest. The knife punctured a lung on its way to the heart.
Johnson fled. 9-1-1 was called at 11:35.
Police arrived to find Namox on the ground. Paramedics quickly arrived at 11:42 and got him to the Bulkley Valley District Hospital minutes later, but he was already unresponsive when they arrived at the apartment.
Smithers RCMP tracked down and arrested Johnson at 11:47 p.m.
Namox was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m.
