The Quinte Regional Courthouse in Belleville. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
A 31-year-old Quinte West man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the beating death of a 63-year-old man during an altercation in 2016.
At the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse on Thursday, Joshua Hickey entered the guilty plea before being released on $50,000 bail prior to sentencing in order to spend time with his five sons ahead of what Justice Geoffrey Griffin stated would be a ‘lengthy prison term.’
Visibly upset family members of victim Alvin Morrison abruptly left the court room following Judge Griffen’s decision with one stating ‘what about Alvin? He doesn’t get to see his grandchild.’
Earlier in the day, Hickey took the stand pleading with the court to grant him a short-term bail so that he could explain to his young sons why he has been incarcerated for nine months and to prepare them for the future. He explained how he and his children’s mother agreed they don’t want the kids to see him behind bars now and when he goes to prison.
“It has been a long nine months and I want them to know that I am okay,” Hickey said shaking from admitted anxiety. “I want to be able to explain to them where I will be going for the next few years.”
Court heard how on October 11, 2016, Morrison had been drinking with Joshua Hickey’s father Albert Hickey on the day of his death. Albert Hickey and Morrison engaged in some horseplay that resulted in Albert Hickey falling and hitting his head at a residence on Old Highway 2. Joshua Hickey who hadn’t been drinking called 911 as his father lay motionless on the ground. As Morrison attempted to get Albert Hickey up multiple times Joshua Hickey requested that he stop and a fight ensued. Joshua Hickey struck Morrison multiple times with a closed fist. Morrison was later taken to Trenton Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy determined that blunt force trauma caused a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage in Morrison’s brain causing death. Albert Hickey suffered significant head trauma and was airlifted to Kingston General Hospital for treatment and has since made a full recovery. Hickey was charged with second degree murder however pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter on Thursday.
Crown Attorney Adam Zegouras stated he was opposed to releasing Hickey given his criminal record for assault, impaired driving, breach of probation and failing to attend court. Hickey’s counsel Pieter Kort argued a plan for release would be drafted that would uphold the criminal code and the community’s best interests.
“This is a very tragic and unfortunate set of circumstances,” Griffin said while considering whether or not to grant Hickey’s request for bail. “He has accepted responsibility. There was nothing accidental about punching a man who is drunk in his 60s and killing him. After nine months in jail I don’t think he has any apprehension about what he has done…there was no over the top violence. It is a significant crime. The family, they are the victim’s in this and if I was in their position I would be bitter and angry and want to see Mr. Hickey suffer the consequences of his misconduct. Nothing can express the emotion and pain people have experienced and will in the future from Mr. Morrison’s death.”
Hickey was released until August 18 when a pre-sentencing report is due. He must remain in Bancroft, not go to Quinte West, not possess any weapons and keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Hickey agreed that it was for the best that he doesn’t go to Quinte West acknowledging the hardship it would impose on Morrison’s family and friends.
“I understand how the deceased’s family must feel,” Hickey said. “I couldn’t be sorrier.”
