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This article was published 15/10/2014 (2167 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A misguided case of vigilante justice ended with the death of a Winnipeg man.

Details emerged publicly for the first time today about the December 2011 slaying of Sheldon Kostenko. The 33-year-old man was stabbed a total of eight times inside a Morley Avenue apartment block.

Sheldon Kostenko

Jordan Charney, 27, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his role in the attack. The Crown agreed to drop a more serious charge of second-degree murder. Crown and defence lawyers are making a joint-recommendation for a prison sentence between 10 and 12 years.

"A message must be sent to the public that vigilante justice will not be tolerated, for the exact reason we have here today – a completely innocent person murdered for no reason," Crown attorney Sean Sass told court.

The alleged stabber, Denver Gyles, remains before the courts on the second-degree murder charge. He is presumed innocent.

Court heard the night started off innocently enough, with Charney and several friends socializing inside a suite. But the mood turned when a young woman arrived at the party and said she spotted someone in the block attempting to kick in doors.

"The witnesses described there being a bad vibe. The men had their guards up and seemed ready to defend their territory," said Sass.

Charney took charge, telling one man to "grab a shank" and ordering others to split into smaller groups and search for the supposed invader. Charney and a second man then went down to a lower-level floor, while armed with a knife.

That’s when they spotted Kostenko, sitting alone inside the caretaker’s suite, the door partially open. Kostenko had been invited by the caretaker, who is a good friend, to spend the evening socializing. He was then left alone when the caretaker decided to go to the bar with another friend but didn’t want to take Kostenko because he was too intoxicated.

Charney and a second man stormed inside and immediately confronted him, accusing him of breaking in.

"It’s not what you think," Kostenko pleaded. Those were his last words, as he was repeatedly stabbed, beaten and left for dead. The handle of the knife broke off and was embedded in his shoulder.

"In this case we have a totally innocent victim. He was minding his own business in his friend’s apartment," said Sass.

Several of Kostenko’s family members presented emotional impact statements to court today, describing their anger and sadness.

"You are not supposed to watch your children die. To watch him die in this vicious attack is beyond comprehension," said close family friend Patricia Krueger.

"This senseless murder means the entire family will not be allowed to watch Sheldon reach his full potential," said his uncle, William Johnson. "A vibrant young man’s l ife has been cut short for no reason."

www.mikeoncrime.com