A Calgary man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing his friend a dozen times with scissors during a drunken altercation, resulting in the dismissal of a jury that was set to hear his murder trial.
Guilty Plea Entered in Court
Hans Jimenez Varela, originally charged with second-degree murder, entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the Calgary Court of King's Bench on Monday. The plea came just days before his trial was scheduled to begin, leading to the discharge of 14 jurors who had been selected last Thursday.
Crown prosecutor Terry Mazerolle and defense lawyer Jason Wuttunee informed Justice Christopher Simard that they would not be presenting a joint submission on sentencing. The case was adjourned to criminal appearance court on Friday to determine the length of the sentencing hearing, which may require two days.
Details of the Incident
The victim, Jose Miguel Gutierrez Polanco, 28, was killed in a residence on Grier Avenue N.E. in northeast Calgary on February 14, 2024, though the fatal stabbing is believed to have occurred on January 28, 2024. Police discovered his body after an extensive investigation involving hours of CCTV footage and neighborhood canvassing.
During the brief facts presented in court, Wuttunee acknowledged that his client unlawfully caused Gutierrez Polanco's death by assaulting him with a pair of scissors. Mazerolle specified that the assault resulted in 12 stab wounds. Wuttunee also noted that Jimenez Varela was grossly intoxicated at the time of the offense, impairing his ability to form the intent required for murder.
Judge Accepts Guilty Plea
Justice Simard accepted the guilty plea after confirming the elements of manslaughter were satisfied. The judge stated, "They do satisfy all the elements of manslaughter in this case." Jimenez Varela remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of alcohol-fueled violence and the legal distinction between murder and manslaughter in Canadian law.
