Judge sentences Calgary man to 14 years in caseworker’s stabbing death

A Calgary man who admitted to stabbing his caseworker to death at an assisted-living facility must serve 14 years in prison before he can apply for parole.

Brandon Newman, who is now 20, pleaded guilty in September to second-degree murder in the death of Deborah Onwu on Oct. 25, 2019.

WATCH: CityNews’ Tom Ross reports on Brandon Newman pleading guilty in the deadly stabbing of Deborah Onwu.

The morning of the attack

According to an agreed statement of facts read during a sentencing hearing, Newman arrived back at the facility owned by Wood’s Homes shortly after 2 a.m. on Oct. 25. Onwu had started her shift at 11 p.m. and was in the home with another social worker and a client who lived on the bottom floor of the home.

The other worker reported hearing some noises coming from the other room, indicating that Newman had arrived, and Onwu went over to check while her colleague remained with the other client.

Only about thirty minutes after Newman arrived, there was a commotion coming from the room and the other social worker said they heard Onwu cry out “why are you doing this to me?”

Onwu then staggered towards the front door, exclaiming that “the boy stabbed me.” Onwu then went outside and collapsed on the front steps of the home, where she died.

Onwu had been stabbed 19 times.

Newman fled the scene before police arrived, and threw the knife in a bush a couple of doors down. He then flagged down a taxi driver parked at a convenience store, and asked for a free ride to the Drop-In Centre, claiming he was homeless and needed warm shelter for the evening.

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Police then located Newman under the 5 Ave. flyover next to the Drop-In Centre at about 5 a.m., still wearing clothes soaked in Onwu’s blood.

During the arraignment, the judge asked Newman if he was aware what he was admitting to and if he understood the potential consequences before ultimately accepting the plea. Newman also told the court he did not intend to kill Onwu.

During a sentencing hearing, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Jim Eamon accepted a joint submission from the Crown and the defence lawyer that Newman not be eligible to apply for parole for 14 years.

Court heard that Newman had moved into temporary housing at Wood’s Homes, a mental health centre that provides treatment and support for children and adults.

Newman has apologized to her family and said he will never forgive himself.

– With files from CityNews reporter Tom Ross