Delon Shurtz
lethbridge herald
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Sentencing has been adjourned for a man who killed two other men in 2012 during a botched drug deal.
Cody Blue Favel was to be sentenced Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court on two charges of manslaughter, but defence lawyer Greg White told court he hadn't received a pre-sentence report ordered last November when his client pleaded guilty.
"That's crucial because of the nature of the charges," White told Judge Eric Brooks.
A PSR summarizes the accused's family life, personal situation, and background, which may help the judge decide on an appropriate sentence.
Favel admitted Nov. 9 that he stabbed to death 30-year-old Aaron Thacker and 35-year-old Marty Steele last May during a drug deal in a Lethbridge park. An agreed statement of facts was read into court during the November hearing, but sentencing was adjourned for the preparation of the report.
Favel is now scheduled to be sentenced the end of February.
Crown prosecutor Dave Labrenz has already announced his intentions to seek a prison sentence of at least 13 years. Labrenz also recommended the accused not be eligible for parole until he has served half his sentence.
Court was told in November that Favel, 28, was in an apartment with his girlfriend May 12 when he used a cellphone to text someone he knew was interested in buying drugs. He arranged to sell come cocaine and ecstacy for $160, then left the apartment with his girlfriend.
When the two arrived at the Adams Ice Centre Park on the northside, Favel met Thacker and Steele, while his girlfriend stayed some distance away. Shortly afterward she saw Steele and Favel trade swipes with each other, and decided to leave. Moments later Favel caught up with her and they fled together.
Labrenz explained that during the drug deal Steele became upset and took a swing at Favel. The accused, in turn, took out a six-inch kitchen knife and stabbed Steele once in the chest. Thacker, who responded to the attack with punches of his own, was stabbed multiple times in the chest, head, abdomen and arm. Favel then stole Thacker's wallet, removed $200, and tossed the wallet into a backyard as he and his girlfriend fled. He also tossed the knife into a yard and disposed of the drugs.
Court was told Favel had been drinking before the incident, and both his victims had blood-alcohol readings three times the legal limit, and Steele had also been using marijuana.
Police were able to track down the accused from a cellphone they found, which showed Favel's text messages offering to sell drugs to his victims.