Man sentenced for violent, random north Nanaimo stabbing

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It wasn’t made clear why Kyeuno Patterson lashed out against a man unknown to him. (Image Credit: Facebook)

mental health & addiction

Man sentenced for violent, random north Nanaimo stabbing

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The victim happened to be on the phone with his girlfriend prior to the stabbing.

“She heard yelling, she heard ‘give me your f*cking keys, we’ll stab you’.”

The phone conversation then ended.

Despite immediately handing over his keys, the victim was stabbed and his car stolen by the primary offender and three youths.

Those four were arrested shortly after in the getaway vehicle following a traffic stop on the nearby Nanaimo Parkway at Aulds Rd., with Patterson behind the wheel.

“Obviously, this was a terrifying incident for the victim,” Mascolo told court.

The victim managed to phone his girlfriend, who promptly took him to Nanaimo hospital.

Pre-sentence and psychiatric reports were ordered for Patterson, whose criminal record features prior crimes of violence.

He started smoking marijuana at 11-years-old, progressing to cocaine use at the age of 14.

“His clinical profile reflects the interaction of trauma, mood and anxiety symptoms and severe substance misuse,” Mascolo stated in reference to the forensic evaluation.

The expert’s report deemed Patterson a moderate to high risk for future violence, and recommended intensive substance treatment and trauma-focused mental health interventions to help form emotional regulation skills.

A stable and substance-free living environment was also strongly recommended.

The victim reported the incident caused lingering stress and a sense of violation that sticks with him.

He reported ongoing medical issues and pain.

“It’s impacted every part of my life, my health, my peace of mind and my ability to feel safe in my own community,” he wrote in a formally submitted impact statement.

Court was told Patterson had been using drugs for about two days prior to the encounter.

He attended the hearing via video link from the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, while several family members and his girlfriend attended in-person at Nanaimo Law Courts.

Traumatic childhood

Following an early introduction to marijuana, Patterson’s teenage years featured two significant, highly traumatizing events.

Defence attorney Kelly Bradshaw stated Patterson witnessed his best friend killed while the pair were riding longboards near Cedar Secondary School in January 2014.

Patterson was said to be “inconsolable” and was prescribed various medications as a result, Bradshaw said.

That’s when the cocaine use began, which escalated, Bradshaw reported.

“Things got worse and worse,” Bradshaw outlined, noting Patterson was later kicked out of the home by his stepfather while still in high school.

About two-and-a-half years later, Patterson witnessed his girlfriend being run over by a truck on the Island Highway as the pair attempted to cross between intersections near Woodgrove Centre.

She was taken off life support a few weeks later.

“It had him on a path of substance use and trying to forget, and trying to hide and to not remember and I don’t think we’d be here today if he didn’t witness these two traumatic incidents,” Bradshaw said.

While Patterson is depressed and anxious, Bradshaw said her client has plans to salvage his future, including being a productive stepfather.

Patterson has post-release arrangements to resume his job as a crew member on a fishing boat, while Bradshaw said he also benefits from strong family support.

While ultimately accepting a jointly crafted sentence recommendation, provincial court judge Collen Spier voiced concerns about Patterson’s presentation in the psychiatric probe.

She questioned just how remorseful Patterson is, pointing to getting kicked out of Nanaimo Correctional Centre’s Guthrie rehabilitation program for a positive drug test and making jokes about sniffing drugs.

“If he’s going to be ambivalent to these issues and not recognize the importance and the significance of what he’s done, how do I ensure that just this period of time is what is going to turn him the right way?”

Bradshaw responded, pointing to struggles Patterson has to communicate his views.

“He’s not a person who is readily able to express himself in an appropriate way, and I think he can say that to the court himself.”

Patterson addressed the court, stating he fully regrets the stabbing incident.

“I was going to try to say sorry to the victim, but I have no contact with him, but I’m saying sorry now.”

Judge Spier accepted that Patterson appears to have a level of emotional immaturity and is, in fact, remorseful.

After hearing from Patterson, the judge believes Patterson can succeed once he’s released from jail.

“There’s people here who are going to help to keep him on this path.”

As Patterson has been locked up since the incident, he’s scheduled to be released from jail just before Christmas.

He was also handed two years’ probation with numerous conditions, including a lifetime firearms ban.

Patterson was also ordered to pay the victim $470 in restitution.

Charges against Patterson of assault, uttering threats and resisting arrest in relation to a May 5, 2025 incident in Nanaimo were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea.

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