A jury didn’t believe that Ben Tayor stabbed Scott Ledoux seven times because he feared for his life during a fist fight at a St. Patrick’s Day party but they didn’t find he aimed to kill, convicting him Friday of manslaughter and not murder.

Ledoux’s emotional family thanked jurors through a detective for delivering justice for the 22-year-old, who died in Taylor’s Orléans apartment after being stabbed — once in the heart — almost two years ago.

“They felt the verdict was fair and they hold no animosity towards Ben Taylor’s family and they hope he moves on with his life and he learns from this experience to be a better person,” Det. Rick McIntosh said.

But 20-year-old Taylor’s family was shocked that his lawyers’ argument that he had every right to defend himself from an older, bigger man who was refusing to leave didn’t sway jurors.

“When a skinny, scrawny 18-year-old is being attacked, beaten up, in his own home he was given no right to defend himself,” his mother Caroline Taylor said.

“I am appalled.”

Lawyer Patrick McCann was disappointed but relieved that Taylor, behind bars since he turned himself in the next day, was spared a murder conviction and automatic life sentence.

Similar cases have resulted in sentences of two to five years.

The tragedy unfolded after a group of young people in festive St. Paddy’s Day gear who’d later be called to testify gathered to celebrate.

The jury heard that when Taylor returned home from a nearby party, he found it trashed.

He asked people to leave but Ledoux refused and challenged Taylor do something about it.

Taylor’s punch sparked a fight that was broken up.

He grabbed a knife from his kitchen, pocketed it and witnesses heard him muttering threats although he also asked a friend to call 911.

Ledoux started a second fight, which witnesses agreed Taylor was losing.

It was again broken up but this time Ledoux lifted his shirt, saw he’d been stabbed and died in front of horrified onlookers before an ambulance could arrive.

Prosecutor Robert Wadden, who called the verdict fair, argued Taylor decided to use the knife if Ledoux didn’t leave after a fist fight he himself had started.

Then, he argued, Taylor intentionally stabbed an unarmed man in a rematch that he had no reason to fear would leave him with anything more than cuts and bruises.

megan.gillis@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @ottawasun_megan

Convicted: Ben Taylor, 20

Charged with: Second-degree murder in the stabbing of Scott Ledoux

Friday: Jury convicted him of manslaughter

Up next: Back in court March 1 to set a date for sentencing