Man sentenced to 11 years for fatal stabbing at 2019 Halloween party

A man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for a knife attack at party in Toronto on Halloween 2019 that left one person dead and six others injured.

Jacob Alves, now 24, was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Firdous Nabizada, as well as six counts of assault, by a jury in 2023. 

Nabizada was among the victims who were injured during a brawl at a "rowdy" party at a fraternity house in the Annex, Toronto police said at the time. 

During the altercation, Alves stabbed Nabizada in the heart, court heard Tuesday. Nabizada's friends rushed him to the hospital but he died on Nov. 2, 2019. 

Two other men also suffered "serious and life-threatening injuries" from being stabbed by Alves that night, according to Superior Court Justice Kelly Byrne's sentencing decision. 

During Alves' trial, court heard that the fight broke out after Alves, who was 19 at the time, was denied entry to the party and was asked to leave. 

At trial, Alves said he started carrying a knife for protection after a boy slashed him in the neck during a robbery.

Alves testified he had no memory of stabbing Nabizada or injuring six others because he was too intoxicated. 

Judge says man was the aggressor in fight 

But at Alves' sentencing on Tuesday, Byrne said Alves was sober when he chose to arm himself with the knife before consuming alcohol and going to the party — intending to use it if needed. 

Byrne said the facts of the case showed Alves was the aggressor and was the only one armed during the fight. Another aggravating factor is the fact that Nabizada was the final victim "in series of stabbing attacks," the judge said. 

Court also heard about the profound impact the stabbing attacks have had on Nabizada's family and the six other victims. 

Byrne said Nabizada's death has "ravaged his family."

"To them, Firdous embodied promise and had the potential to change the world," the judge said. 

"They all speak about the sadness, pain, frustration, anger and fear that now shapes their daily lives and the heaviness they carry in their hearts." 

But Byrne also noted that Alves has shown remorse for his actions, and that the court received 14 letters of support stating he is a good hearted person and his actions that night were completely out of character.

Though Alves had been on trial for second-degree murder, a jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. 

Alves' 11-year sentence for manslaughter is to be served concurrently with six sentences for assault.

Byrne gave him seven years and nine months worth of credit for the time he's already spent in custody under harsh conditions, meaning Alves has three years and three months left to serve in prison.