Cape Breton woman gets 9 years in prison for manslaughter in death of Stephen Rose

A Cape Breton woman has been sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in what a judge described as a brutal, two-on-one attack that claimed the life of a 41-year-old father of four.

Jessica Anne MacDonald, 38, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Stephen Rose, who was stabbed 147 times and left for dead in a Sydney apartment in November 2019.

MacDonald's sentencing was conducted last December in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Sydney, but the decision was only published this week.

In his sentencing decision, Justice Patrick Murray said while MacDonald was not the main aggressor and had urged her co-accused and Rose to stop fighting, she ultimately joined in the attack, stabbing the victim. She did not call 911 or police for help, he wrote.

"At the outset it must be said this was an extremely violent crime, a vicious knife attack," said Murray. "In terms of her involvement, I agree with the Crown that Ms. MacDonald's moral culpability is high."

MacDonald has been in custody since shortly after Rose was killed. With what's known as "enhanced credit," she faces a little more than 15 months in prison.

Argument turned into attack

Her co-accused, Joseph Frederick Evong, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year. The 41-year-old was sentenced in December 2024 to 12 years in prison with credit for time already served.

Court previously heard that Evong and Rose started arguing after each went separately to visit MacDonald at her apartment on Nov. 5, 2019. Both men had been drinking and carrying a knife, but it was Evong who initiated a knife fight with Rose.

During the course of the fight, Evong handed MacDonald a three-pronged knife, which she then plunged into Rose's neck and back. The autopsy report found that wound "to be of particular significance," said the sentencing decision. It also noted that MacDonald cut off Rose's finger.

According to a medical examiner's report, Rose also had multiple blunt force injuries and his body was found with a belt around the neck.

"From the agreed statement of facts, it can be reasonably inferred that this was a case of sheer brutality," Murray said in his decision. "The number of stab wounds and incised wounds is indicative of the level of violence."

Rose had 'remarkable' influence on others: judge

There were 23 victim impact statements filed as part of MacDonald's sentencing hearing.

"What stood out about these, and each were unique, is how much Mr. Rose was loved, counted on for support and how much he is missed by friends, family and neighbours alike," the judge wrote.

"He was a father, a son, a brother, and a true friend. The breadth of his influence on people's lives is remarkable."

A pre-sentence report said MacDonald has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder since being incarcerated. She was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Murray cited MacDonald's co-operation with investigators and lack of a criminal record as mitigating factors in the sentence. The decision noted MacDonald appears to be a good candidate for rehabilitation.