Judge grants house arrest for stabbing on Cornell Bay

A man was sentenced to one year of house arrest after he stabbed another man in the chest in a Brandon home last summer.

“This is a very serious matter that involved a stabbing, the use of a weapon and caused injury — fortunately, not more serious than it was,” Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said in Brandon provincial court on Thursday.

Malikhi Tacan, 20, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault with a weapon.

On Aug. 27, 2025, Brandon police were in the area of Cornell Bay and saw a woman and a man, who had “fresh blood soaking through his shirt on the right side of the chest,” get out of a taxi, Crown attorney Grant Hughes said.

The man told police Tacan had stabbed him and police saw a stab wound close to man’s collarbone, prompting them to call an ambulance.

Officers went to a residence on Cornell Bay, where Tacan identified himself, and took him into custody, court heard.

Tacan’s brother told police Tacan “ran into the house after (the) stabbing and hid the knife in his bedroom,” the Crown said. His brother consented to police searching the residence, and officers seized the knife.

Court heard the victim, his girlfriend and her brother had earlier gone to a residence on Cornell Bay to “retrieve some items,” which led to a verbal argument. Hughes said the victim allegedly punched another man in the face, and in response Tacan stabbed him.

Hughes and defence lawyer Bob Harrison jointly recommended a one-year conditional sentence — meaning Tacan would be under house arrest and allowed to leave his residence or property only for agreed-upon exceptions — followed by one year of probation.

“This is Mr. Tacan’s first encounter with the criminal law. The injuries apparently were relatively minor,” Hughes said. “We suggest that a conditional sentence is appropriate and does have the necessary deterrence factors for individuals in the position of Mr. Tacan.”

Harrison said a conditional sentence is the least restrictive option and considers Tacan’s potential for rehabilitation. He noted that Tacan has already been in custody for the equivalent of 224 days.

“I asked him what happened. He said he was drunk at the time this person was around … got into a pushing match, and unfortunately, with his intoxication, the stabbing took place,” Harrison said.

It’s no question that alcohol has been an issue for Tacan, Harrison said, before outlining his client’s several Gladue factors, including his exposure to alcohol abuse at a young age and that his mother went to residential school.

He said Tacan never intended to take the charge to trial, which showed his remorse and that he’s taken responsibility.

In the future, Tacan wants to get more involved in cultural activities and get employment, court heard.

When given the chance to speak, Tacan apologized and acknowledged he could have handled the situation better.

“I don’t know why I did it. I should have (taken) a better route. This is not me,” he said.

Hewitt-Michta imposed the joint recommendation and told Tacan it was fortunate the victim didn’t sustain worse injuries based on where Tacan stabbed him.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com