Former British Soldier Sentenced Over 4 Years Manslaughter Winnipeg Man Toronto Bar

Craig Gibson, a 30-year-old former British soldier from Scotland, was sentenced to over four years in prison for the manslaughter of Brett Sheffield, a Winnipeg businessman, following an assault at a Toronto bar in August 2023. The incident, described by Ontario Superior Court Justice Katherine Corrick as a "vicious assault with tragic consequences," involved Gibson striking Sheffield three times with an elbow to the head, causing a fatal ruptured artery. Surveillance footage showed the men initially socializing amicably before a dispute escalated, during which Sheffield reportedly provoked Gibson with cocaine, leading to the fatal attack. Gibson's defense of self-defense was rejected by the jury, and he was dishonorably discharged from the British Army, losing his pension and military career prospects. The judge emphasized the profound loss suffered by Sheffield's family and noted Gibson's remorse and the hardships he now faces serving his sentence in Canada. The case highlights the tragic consequences of a violent confrontation that went beyond a typical bar fight.