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New lawyer for convicted murderer Mantla

Convicted killer Kevin Mantla appealing conviction, sentence
Brendan Burke/NNSL photo.

After a surprise move from Kevin Mantla saw the convicted murderer fire both of his lawyers moments before he was set to be sentenced last week, the 38-year-old Gameti man accepted representation from legal aid during a court appearance Thursday.

On July 3, Mantla was due to be sentenced for second-degree murder and attempted murder, but proceedings were stalled after he discharged his two lawyers, leaving relatives of Elvis Lafferty, the man killed in a bloody stabbing attack carried out by Mantla in September 2015, frustrated.

Mantla, already convicted of the crime, asked Justice Louise Charbonneau why he needed a lawyer to be sentenced.

Charbonneau encouraged Mantla to retain representation because the "serious decision" of parole eligibility was still before the courts.

In a sometimes testy and tense exchange between Mantla and Charbonneau in NWT Supreme Court Thursday, the convicted offender began to rattle off questions before the justice cut him off.

"I'm asking the questions now. Do you want to have legal aid?," she asked.

"I want a lawyer but not with legal aid. How about that?," said Mantla, standing in the prisoner's booth.

Acting as counsel of Mantla's behalf, Stephanie Whitecloud-Brass told the court a staff lawyer with legal aid had been identified as being available to represent Mantla.

Mantla ultimately accepted the lawyer, Tracy Bock, as his new lawyer.

Mantla will be back in court on Monday to set a new sentencing date.