REGINA --Joshua Michael Harden was wearing a red shirt and hat when, while looking for his girlfriend, he wandered into a house party on Garnet Street.

The colour of his clothing became the motive for a violent attack that left him dead.

“This incident involved a level of violence resulting in death, between persons not known to each other, in a culture of street gang violence — a situation all too common in the city of Regina which has left numerous families both heartbroken and devastated,” Crown prosecutor Sonya Guiboche said Tuesday.

Harden — a 26-year-old father — was not known to 23-year-old Skylar Blue Alexson, the man who inflicted the single stab wound to Harden’s back, court heard.

Moments earlier, Harden had inadvertently walked into a house party populated by members and associates of the Native Syndicate while wearing the colour associated with rival street gang, the Native Syndicate Killers.

Alexson, along with three youths, was initially charged with second-degree murder in the early morning Feb. 20 death. On Tuesday, he became the first of the group to deal with his charges, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Crown prosecutors Sonya Guiboche and Maura Landry joined with defence lawyer Jeff Deagle in asking Queen's Bench Justice Ellen Gunn to impose a nine-year prison term on top of the time Alexson has spent on remand. After taking a few hours to consider, Gunn agreed to pass that sentence, which amounts to nine years, eight months with remand credit.

Court heard Harden and his girlfriend had been out that February night, socializing and drinking at a friend’s. Afterward, the two disagreed on whether to head home or stay out, Harden in favour of the second option.

The two separated momentarily and ended up losing sight of one another. As they looked for each other, Harden’s path led him into the party, a last-minute and unplanned gathering hosted by Alexson.

Alexson — a long-time addict who started using drugs at age 12 and was indoctrinated into gang life before age 10 — had not only been drinking but had taken three doses of hydromorphone.

After Harden, as Guiboche put it, “stumbled through the door” of Alexson’s house, a number of partygoers noticed the colour worn by Harden and kicked him out.

But, instead of simply letting Harden leave, Alexson and several others followed. Harden hadn’t made it far when he was set upon by the other males, Alexson delivering the single stab wound that cut open Harden’s aorta.

Harden made it a short distance before collapsing on the street. His girlfriend, having finally spotted him, called 9-1-1 and held him until emergency crews arrived. Despite efforts by police, EMS and emergency room staff, Harden was pronounced dead in hospital.

The courtroom was packed Tuesday, numerous members of Harden’s family having attended to see the case resolved. Several provided victim impact statements, describing their loved one as a soft-spoken man with a big heart and tremendous love for his family who had dealt with some of his own troubles in the past but was making efforts to turn things around.

Harden’s seven-year-old daughter touched on the sadness and anger she feels, while Harden’s mother, Theresa White, tearfully detailed the pain she’s had to endure since learning of her son’s death.

“Josh’s murder has taken everything from me,” she said.

In imposing sentence, Gunn referenced the family’s victim impact statements in speaking to the severity of Alexson’s actions.

“Mr. Alexson, you have taken a life,” she said. “You have damaged a family forever by your actions.”

hpolischuk@postmedia.com

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