WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg man who fatally stabbed his cousin following an argument over a pair of jeans has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Delmar Young, 30, died Nov. 18, 2007, after suffering a single stab wound to the heart.

Kyle McKay, Young's cousin, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

"The consequence of this crime will haunt Mr. McKay for the rest of his life," said Justice Joan McKelvey.

McKay, then 21, and his younger brother were visiting family at a downtown apartment when they saw their uncle wearing the younger brother's jeans. The young man demanded his pants back and an argument ensued, with McKay siding with his brother and Young siding with the uncle.

The argument spilled outside the apartment building, where Young was stabbed once in the heart.

Defence lawyer Greg Brodsky argued McKay stabbed Young in self-defence as Young and another man advanced on him.

Relatives testified at a preliminary hearing that McKay came to their home following the stabbing and said "he might have killed his cousin by accident, he didn't mean it. He said he was defending his little brother."

McKay was originally charged with second-degree murder. At a sentencing hearing last month, Crown attorney Mark Kantor said conflicting witness evidence and evidence of provocation and intoxication were considered in accepting a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

In 1996, Young pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with a shooting two years earlier and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Clifford Bouchie, 41, was fatally shot in the chest inside his Bloodvein First Nation home.

Young was 17 at the time but his case was transferred to adult court.

Young's mother forgave McKay in court last month and said he would still be alive if Young and McKay had not been drinking or doing drugs.

"Alcohol and drugs are vile enemies," she said. "I know that forgiveness is the only way to live again. I want Kyle to forgive himself so he can have a life after this."

McKelvey said she had no doubt McKay was remorseful for his "impulsive act."

"Perhaps the forgiving hand extended to him by his aunt will lead him down a more appropriate path in the future," she said.

McKay received double credit for time served, reducing his remaining sentence to 21/2 years.

dean.pritchard@sunmedia.ca