Sentencing was completed on Friday at the Quinte Courthouse in Belleville in the case of a stabbing death outside the Go-Go Club in January of 2024.
Justice John Bonn sentenced Hayden Moreton, who had previously plead guilty to the charges, to five years for manslaughter, with an additional 18 months for the aggravated assault charge. His sentence also includes submitting a DNA sample, and being prohibited from owning weapons for 20 years from the date of his release.
Moreton was credited with 25 months of time served for pre-trial custody. Pre-trial detention is usually credited at time and a half, and Moreton was held for 494 days before his sentencing. Justice Bonn noted the harsh conditions of his custody before sentencing, with 375 days spent in lockdown. Moreton was also often kept with two other prisoners in a cell designed to only house two people.
The charges stem from an incident outside of the Go-Go Club on North Front Street in Belleville, where 25-year-old Moreton plead guilty to fatally stabbing 23-year-old Christian Williams during an altercation. Moreton also plead guilty to aggravated assault for non-fatally injuring another person with the same knife.
Justice Bonn had previously heard sentencing arguments and victim impact statements on this case. During the sentencing, he spoke about the aggravating and mitigating circumstances present in the case.
Some of the aggravating factors he cited included that Moreton was carrying a concealed knife and later disposed of the knife. He also listed Moreton’s youth, potential for rehabilitation, and demonstrated remorse as mitigating factors.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The incident described above did not occur inside of the establishment.
