Nicholls verdict

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Jesse Clarke’s killer was sentenced today to six years in prison for manslaughter.

As Lisa Hepfner reports, the sentence is little solace for Clarke’s family. And the east Hamilton neighbourhood where it happened, has only gotten worse.

Jesse Clarke’s family left court shouting. Later, at home, his father explained they had hoped Brodie Nicholls would get at least eight years in prison. “…the sentence she just passed down, this is what she’s doing. She’s telling the kids go ahead keep the violence going because there’s no justice no matter what you do.”

Nicholls’ lawyer, Beth Bromberg, had been asking for less than two years, so the 19-year-old could access certain mental health programs. “He’s particularly vulnerable and he really needed some extra care.”

Nicholls’ mother recently re-surfaced and was in court for sentencing. She worked the streets, and would bring men home and then leave her children with them. She shook her head as the judge described Nicholls’ horrific childhood, while beside her, her estranged daughter silently sobbed.

Nicholls was staying with another family on August 18 last year, when a group of teens including Jesse Clarke approached his house and started taunting his foster mother. Nicholls grabbed a kitchen knife from the porch and brandished it. Then, when the group started running away he gave chase, caught up to Jesse Clarke, and delivered one fatal knife blow to the heart. He immediately yelled that he had stabbed someone, and started apologizing shortly after.

“He has no complaint with the sentence . He was always ready to take whatever was coming to him, from the very first moment” said Brodie Nicholls lawyer Beth Bromberg.

The judge called Jesse Clarke’s death stupid and senseless, and said it’s something happening with disturbing frequency in this city. We heard in court how youth in the east end neighbourhood are increasingly depressed, and more of them are taking weapons with them when they leave their homes. The judge said these young men must put down their knives, or this situation will be repeated.