A Sarnia man accused of killing a man in Chatham has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and has received a sentence of time already served in jail plus a two year conditional sentence.
Kyle Samko, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon in Chatham Superior Court and received credit for the 25.5 months he already served at the jail in Windsor in pre-trial custody.
Chatham-Kent Assistant Crown James Boonstra told CK News Today that Samko still has a two year conditional sentence ahead of him, including six months house arrest, six months curfew, and 12 months reporting to a probation officer.
Samko has been out on $50,000 bail since early June and was to be re-tried for the murder of Manuel (Manny) da Silva, 35, in Chatham in June of 2021. His first trial in March 2023 was declared a mistrial because the jury couldn't come to a unanimous decision.
Samko pleaded not guilty to the charge of second degree murder after da Silva was killed outside a house on St. George Street near Park Avenue in Chatham.
Da Silva suffered one fatal stab wound to the chest that punctured his heart and Samko's lawyer argued it was in self-defence.
