Overview
- Justice James Chipman found Alexander Pishori Levy applied a chokehold for about two minutes, causing Ryan Sawyer’s cardiac arrest, then failed to render or seek medical aid.
- The judge rejected Levy’s self-defence claim and said he did not believe him in virtually every critical area of his testimony, calling his response disproportionate.
- Sentencing is scheduled for April 26, 2025, and Crown prosecutors have not yet finalized their recommendations.
- The judge-alone trial heard about 20 witnesses, including police officers, bouncers, the Alehouse owners, and Sawyer’s twin brother, with video evidence underpinning key findings.
- The case spotlighted Nova Scotia’s lack of a licensing and training regime for bouncers, prompting limited rules in 2023 and a pre-trial announcement to expand them, as Sawyer’s family urges stronger, enforceable measures.