Cape Breton man sentenced for role in ‘horrendous’ stabbing in Sydney

A tragic incident occurred in Sydney, Nova Scotia, in 2019, where Joseph Frederick Evong was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in the stabbing death of Stephen Rose. However, due to various credits, Evong will only serve just over two years in custody. He and his co-accused, Jessica Anne MacDonald, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the killing of Rose, a 41-year-old father of four.

During the sentencing, Justice Joshua Arnold of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court highlighted that Evong and MacDonald had acted together in the attack on Rose, who sustained 147 stab wounds. The brutality of the crime was described as horrendous, with poor evidence available to determine individual responsibilities for the crime.

Rose’s body was discovered inside MacDonald’s apartment with multiple knife wounds, blunt force injuries, an amputated finger, and a belt around the neck. It was revealed that a confrontation between Evong and Rose escalated into a knife fight after they separately visited MacDonald’s apartment while under the influence of alcohol.

Defense evidence presented to the court indicated that Evong had been on a drinking binge for five days leading up to the incident, attributing his actions to alcohol abuse. Despite this, Evong expressed remorse for his role in Rose’s death, acknowledging the lack of adequate words to convey his apology.

Family members of the victim spoke in court about the profound impact of Rose’s violent death and the lengthy legal process on their lives. They described the emotional toll, particularly on Rose’s father, who passed away a year ago, attributing his death to the heartbreak caused by the tragedy.

Katie Laybolt, the mother of Rose’s nephews, fondly remembered him as a protective and loyal individual with a vibrant personality. She condemned the senseless and horrific nature of his death, expressing the family’s struggle with stress and isolation while coming to terms with the details of the incident.

During the final submissions, the Crown attorney highlighted the violent nature of Rose’s death and Evong’s criminal record, which included previous offenses like robberies, assault, and weapons-related charges. MacDonald is set to face her own sentencing on December 20, adding another chapter to this tragic saga.