Windsor man pleads guilty to manslaughter in stabbing death of common-law partner

WARNING: this story contains details of intimate partner violence. 

A Windsor, Ont., man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of his common-law partner. 

Police had originally charged Wellington Holland, who was 62 at the time of the offence, with first-degree murder.

On Wednesday, Holland sat in a courtroom at Windsor's Superior Court of Justice wearing a grey sweater and pants. A few feet behind him were the family members of the 67-year-old victim, Janice Madison. 

Madison was found with stab wounds in the home she shared with Holland on Nov. 14, 2023, according to an agreed statement of facts read out by Crown lawyer Bryan Pillon. 

Details about Holland and Madison's relationship, as well as her death, were shared in the statement of facts. 

Madison and Holland had been in an intimate relationship for four years, spending three of those living together in Windsor's Remington Park neighbourhood. 

On Nov. 14, one of Holland's sisters got a call from Holland, who said he had killed Madison. 

The sister, along with one of Holland's other siblings, drove to the house.

The pair found Holland sitting on the couch, severely intoxicated and saying that Madison had been belittling him and calling him names. 

The siblings went upstairs to a bedroom. That's where they found Madison on the floor beside the bed. 

She had multiple stab wounds all over her body. 

He asked his sisters not to call the police. 

One of the sisters called emergency services. Madison was brought to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. 

A toxicologist report found that Holland had an extremely high blood alcohol level at the time of the incident. 

Holland's criminal record includes multiple cases of assault against Madison, including a conviction in February 2022 for choking and strangling her. 

Following the reading of the statement of facts, the presiding judge asked Holland to stand and confirm that he agreed, he said "yeah." 

The judge said what happened was "tragic" and is a case of intimate partner violence. 

Holland is expected to be sentenced on Jan. 13, 2025.