Bouncer guilty of manslaughter in killing of bar patron

Justice James Chipman has found former Halifax Alehouse bouncer Alexander Levy guilty of manslaughter and criminal negligence in the death of 31-year-old Ryan Sawyer.

Chipman read his decision to a full courtroom on Wednesday. Sawyer’s family, friends and advocates were in attendance. 

“He died trying to save his brother,” Sawyer’s father, Scott, told reporters after the trial.

Ryan Sawyer and his brother Kyle were involved in a bar fight that broke out on Prince Street on Dec. 24, 2022. The fight began after Levy and other bouncers escorted the brothers out of the bar following their involvement in a minor dispute over spilled drinks.

Despite finding that Kyle threw the first punch, Chipman concluded that instead of verbally de-escalating the situation, “Mr. Levy took it upon himself to overtly go to Ryan and place him in a prolonged chokehold.”

While defence lawyer James Giacomantonio argued that Sawyer’s death was not a foreseeable outcome of Levy’s actions, video evidence, photos and the Crown’s 19 witness testimonies convinced Chipman that use of the prolonged chokehold was unlawful and, ultimately, the cause of Sawyer’s death. 

Over the course of the judge-only trial, the court heard conflicting testimonies regarding the duration of the chokehold. Levy maintained that he applied pressure around Sawyer’s neck for only 10-15 seconds. Other evidence suggested that pressure to Sawyer’s neck lasted for about two minutes. 

Halifax Police Const. Jairus Lamphier was one of the first officers at the scene and testified that Levy continued to perform the chokehold after Sawyer was “completely limp.”

“I then had to reach down and grab his arm and start pulling it from Ryan’s neck because he simply wasn’t listening,” Lamphier said. He added that he commanded Levy to “let go” three or four times. 

Conversely, Levy testified that he “wasn’t even squeezing.” He said he was holding Sawyer in place as a precautionary measure.

With respect to Levy’s testimony, Chipman said, “I do not believe him in virtually every critical area.” 

Despite efforts to resuscitate Sawyer, he did not resume breathing and was taken to hospital where he died.  

Levy said he learned to use the ‘rear-naked chokehold’ in security training as a last resort restraint tactic and said he had used it successfully “100 times” throughout his career. As such, the defence argued that Levy’s use of the hold was reasonable and not intended to cause bodily harm. 

Outside the courtroom

“There aren’t any winners here,” Crown attorney Rob Kennedy said following the verdict. “Ryan Sawyer is not coming back.” 

The incident has since placed a spotlight Nova Scotia’s lack of regulations for bar security staff. The province introduced new regulations in 2023 and 2024, requiring criminal background checks and additional training for bar security staff. 

“Providing training for security personnel who work in the bar scene was a positive step,” said Natasha Chestnut, executive director of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, in a statement to The Signal.

“When individuals have the resources and skill sets to support them in doing their job, it is beneficial to the health and safety of customers and employees.”

Sawyer’s mother, Lee, told reporters that she plans to push for further improvements to the legislation. 

“I am going to continue to push forward until proper regulation is put in place, because what they are proposing is nothing more than just a Band-Aid,” she said. 

At a press conference on Thursday, Service Nova Scotia Minister Jill Balser said new legislation for regulating security staff will be in place by June 2026. Service Nova Scotia manages rules under the Liquor Control Act.

“The work that was underway under the department was very much influenced by what happened to Ryan Sawyer and knowing that what the families have gone through, we want to make sure that what we brought forward is significant.”

Levy’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 24.