An angry and aggressive panhandler, insulted when her request for money from two “jocks” was rudely rebuffed, stabbed one of them four times in the chest during an escalating dispute, a judge has ruled.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer found Tuesday that Nicole Kish, 24, is guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Ross Hammond.

Hammond’s widow, Kara, expressed relief at the verdict. “Ross is never coming back and that’s the reality that we have to face, but we couldn’t have asked for anything better in today’s outcome,” she said.

In making his ruling, Justice Nordheimer pieced together the first clear account of the crime that shocked Toronto and led to calls to ban panhandling.

It was a pleasant evening on Aug. 8, 2007 when Hammond, a 32-year-old St. Catharines Internet marketer working in Toronto, and his colleague, George Dranichak, were out bar hopping with workmates.

Shortly after midnight the two men, described by some witnesses as looking like jocks, walked along Queen St. W. and went to a bank machine at Euclid Ave.

At that point, the judge said Kish approached and asked for money and they responded with offensive remarks, “no-doubt fuelled in part by the alcohol that they had consumed.”

“Had Mr. Hammond and Mr. Dranichak responded in a more intelligent and polite fashion, the resulting events would likely not have taken place,” Nordheimer said.

Kish started yelling in equally obscene language, no doubt fuelled by the alcohol she had consumed, the judge said.

Douglas Fresh, Kish’s friend, arrived and joined the dispute, which moved west along Queen St. Either Hammond or Dranichak threw Fresh into a store window, and Kish was hit and fell to the ground.

Hammond and Dranichak crossed to the south side of Queen St. with an angry Fresh in pursuit, followed by Kish. He attacked Hammond, but the latter quickly got the better of him, possibly knocking him unconscious.

An agitated Kish stabbed Hammond in the back to get him off Fresh, leaving superficial wounds.

Hammond moved to the north side of the street, followed by Kish, and encountered several other street kids.

Kish either stabbed Hammond four times in the chest, delivering the fatal blow, or passed the knife to someone else who did, the judge concluded.

After the verdict, the judge revoked Kish’s bail, and the tearful woman looked stricken as she was led away in handcuffs. Sentencing begins April 4.

Prosecutor Warren Thompson called it “a death that did not have to happen.”

Defence lawyer John Scarfe said Kish’s family and legal team are shocked and disappointed at the verdict and she will appeal.

Other members of Hammond’s family expressed relief and joy.

“We didn’t win today,” said his sister, Gina Air. “Winning would be bringing my brother back to us, but we did get a little bit of peace today, I think, for him.”

Hammond’s mother Connie said the family can now get on with their lives. “This is what we asked for.”