A 21-year-old man was sentenced to six years behind bars for stabbing a 64-year-old Courtenay man last year.
Douglas Waterfield pleaded guilty at a Courtenay courthouse on Tuesday.
According to Waterfield’s lawyer, the defence and crown agreed on the sentence.
“When you consider his age, his background, six years is a significant sentence for this young man,” said defence lawyer, Jordan Watt. “It’s unfortunate that a life was lost, but he also has to go into custody for a long time.”
The court heard that Waterfield went to the Supreme Convenience store on Lake Trail Road on Feb. 9, 2016 to buy cocaine from a drug dealer.
After he got out of the drug dealer's car he tried to grab a change purse through a window and stabbed the driver.
Larry Pearn attempted to drive himself to the hospital, but began to lose consciousness near Cumberland Road.
He died 10 days later.
During his sentencing the judge gave Waterfield a stern warning regarding his drug addiction.
"You’re going to spend a good chunk of your young life in a federal penitentiary,” said Supreme Court Justice Robin Baird. “If this doesn’t get your attention, if you haven’t hit the solid granite rock bottom through this disposition today, there’s no help coming for you.”
With time served Waterfield will spend just under five years in prison.
He says he wants to turn his life around during his sentence and will work on completing his grade 12 education.
With files from CTV Vancouver Island's Gord Kurbis
