A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of a 72-year-old man in a Vancouver rooming house nearly four years ago will not serve time in prison.

The sentencing decision by B.C. provincial court Judge Reginald Harris says 31-year-old Anthony Woods must instead continue to live at a recovery home in the Interior for the first year of his two-year conditional sentence.

The court heard that Alex Gortmaker was stabbed on Dec. 15, 2020, in what is described as a 鈥渕inor altercation鈥� in an elevator after Woods and a friend had been drinking and taking drugs in a suite at the former Biltmore Hotel building.

Woods jumped from a balcony as he fled the area, but he was arrested several hours later, and the decision says he was 鈥渆motional,鈥� telling police he 鈥渨anted to apologize鈥� to the victim鈥檚 family and he wished the incident had never happened.

The decision outlines mitigating factors including Woods鈥� guilty plea, his co-operation with police and the 鈥済reat strides鈥� he鈥檚 made in his rehabilitation, while the aggravating factors were the victim鈥檚 age and vulnerability, Woods鈥� use of a knife, and the fact his actions were a 鈥渄isproportionate鈥� response to the dispute.

Woods is not allowed to leave the recovery society property during the first year of his conditional sentence except in specific circumstances, such as travelling to and from counselling, and he is not allowed to posses any weapons.

Woods comes from the Gitxaala Nation on B.C.鈥檚 north coast and he was raised in the Vancouver area, the decision says. The judge found he experienced 鈥減overty, violence, cultural disconnectedness, homelessness, (a) low level of education, loss of cultural teachings, exposure to substance abuse and separation from family.鈥�

The decision says Woods has been 鈥渟ubstance free鈥� since September 2021, when he was charged and arrested for Gortmaker鈥檚 death.

The Crown had sought a custodial sentence of four years minus credit for time served, while the sentencing decision says Woods鈥� defence highlighted his 鈥渞educed culpability,鈥� lack of criminal record and his 鈥渞ehabilitative prospects,鈥� seeking a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community.

The judge ordered Woods to stay at the recovery society between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. every day for the entirety of the two-year conditional sentence.

A three-year probation order also directs him to complete 75 hours of community service and prohibits him from consuming alcohol or drugs without a prescription.