Lethbridge man handed 4-year sentence for 2015 beating death
LETHBRIDGE – A 40-year-old Lethbridge man was handed a four-year sentence Friday morning (Oct. 13), for the 2015 beating death of 47-year-old Gifford George Good Dagger.
However, James Gregory Gurney will only serve a fraction of that time, as a result of time spent in pre-trial custody. With a credit of time-and-a-half for what he has already served, Gurney only has 359 days left on his sentence.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter in July of this year, and the sentence was the result of a joint submission by the Crown and defence.
Gurney admitted that on the night of Aug. 31, 2015, he was intoxicated and got into a fight with Good Dagger. He told staff at Quest Support Services – where both he and victim were living at the time – that it was over inappropriate remarks made by Good Dagger regarding female staff at Quest. He stated that at one point he snapped, repeatedly punching Good Dagger, and then kneeing and kicking him in the body and head.