Brett Davidson had just completed a stroll with his dog in Calgary and was texting his new girlfriend when he encountered Cory Miklic, a violent offender who carried out a brutal and vicious assault, stabbing Davidson more than a dozen times.
In a courtroom session at the Court of King’s Bench, 44-year-old Miklic admitted guilt to second-degree murder in the presence of Davidson’s family, who were observing from the gallery. The prosecution narrated the incident, citing an agreed statement of facts.
Davidson, aged 39, a retired navy veteran new to Calgary, resided in an Inglewood condo on Ninth Avenue. On August 27, 2022, he was approached by Miklic in the hallway of his building, despite the two never having met before. Miklic, with a history of 33 assault convictions, was out on bail for prior assault offenses when he used a kitchen knife to repeatedly stab Davidson.
During the attack, two neighbors heard distress calls and witnessed Miklic assaulting Davidson. They immediately called emergency services as Miklic fled to his mother’s residence, leaving the weapon in the kitchen.
Severely wounded, Davidson descended the building’s stairs and collapsed outside the gym. Gym manager Stephen Leonard rushed to aid him, applying pressure to his wounds while awaiting medical assistance. Davidson expressed that the attack was unprovoked before losing consciousness.
Medical staff at Foothills Medical Centre fought to keep Davidson alive for two more hours, but he succumbed to his injuries around 3:45 PM. Meanwhile, Miklic went to a movie theater after the crime before returning to the condo building, where he was apprehended.
Miklic received a life sentence with a parole ineligibility period of 13 years as agreed upon by the prosecution and defense. The judge, Labrenz, remarked on the senselessness of the crime, describing it as shocking, appalling, terrifying, inexplicable, and incomprehensible. Davidson’s family members provided victim impact statements, emphasizing the devastating loss caused by the tragic incident.