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BARRHAVEN
Year 31 • issue 4
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FRIDAY • February 19 • 2021
Tsega found guilty of manslaughter again in Michael Swan retrial By Jeff Morris and Charlie Senack
Sam Tsega has been found guilty of manslaughter for the second time for his role in the 2010 killing of Michael Swan, a 19-yearold teen from Barrhaven. And once again, Tsega is out on bail, living about a half mile away from the victim’s family in Barrhaven. Tsega has been living with his mother at her home since June, 2017, when he won his first appeal. Dale Swan, the victim’s father, told the Independent three years ago that it was “a slap in the face that (Tsega) is right here, living in the community that close to us.” Swan said having Tsega in the neighbourhood is a constant reminder of what happened to his son. Tsega, who was also 19 at the time of the murder, was granted a second trial
in February 2019 after a ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal. While Tsega was not with the three intruders at the time of the home invasion, he plotted the break and enter which led to Swan’s death. “We were happy and probably more relieved at the outcome,” said Dale Swan, the father of the victim. “Nothing has changed. Early on the morning of Feb. 22, 2010, three masked men broke into Swan’s home on Moodie Drive, just north of Bankfield/Brophy Rd. They demanded information about a stash of marijuana and cash, then ordered the Barrhaven teen to the ground. Swan was shot and killed, execution style, in front of his girlfriend and another friend. The trial first entered the Elgin Street Courthouse in 2017, seven years after the killing. Tsega was sentenced
to nine years in prison and the three other men from Toronto were convicted for murder. The crown wanted to sentence Tsega to 14-16 years behind bars; meanwhile his attorney, Mark Erel, had requested a 6-8 year sentence. “If Tsega would have just served his sentence, there is a chance he would be free,” Dale Sawn said. “Had he done his time, he would be eligible for parole by now.” Kristopher McLellan, one of the three men who admitted to pulling the trigger which killed Swan, was convicted of first-degree murder. His accomplice, Dylon Barnett, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentences to life with no chance of parole for 12 years. Kyle Mullen, who was also an accomplice, was initially convicted of second-
degree murder, but won a second trial after the appeal court ruled the trial judge made “serious” errors in the case. Mullen pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of manslaughter and was able to walk free in September 2019 due to time already served. In Tsega’s case, the court heard how the young man had no previous criminal record and volunteered in his spare time. They also heard how Tsega played varsity lacrosse and held down a job despite having a brain injury which caused learning problems. While in his third year of business studies at Carleton University, Tsega was kicked off the Ravens lacrosse team and suspended from his studies. He is not allowed on campus at Carleton.
Michael Swan, a former Double-A hockey player, was killed in his home 11 years ago this week.
swan
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Barrhaven Independent file photo
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