Nova Scotia·NewThe Crown has closed its case in the trial of a former Halifax bouncer accused of putting a bar patron in a chokehold that led to his death almost three years ago. Alexander Levy charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing deathBlair Rhodes · CBC News · Posted: Oct 14, 2025 8:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoAlexander Levy, left, is shown leaving a courtroom at Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax with defence lawyer James Giacomantonio on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (Richard Cuthbertson/CBC)The Crown has closed its case in the trial of a former Halifax bouncer accused of putting a bar patron in a chokehold that led to his death on Christmas Eve almost three years ago.Alexander Pishori Levy, 40, is charged with criminal negligence causing death and manslaughter in the death of Ryan Sawyer, 31, in an altercation on the sidewalk outside the Halifax Alehouse on December 24, 2022.The final Crown witness in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial was Dr. Christopher Milroy, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy and videos from the scene.Milroy, who testified by video from Ottawa, told the Halifax courtroom Tuesday that a neck restraint, when properly applied, can render a person unconscious within 10 to 15 seconds. Video of the confrontation between Sawyer and Levy appeared to show the bouncer maintaining a grip around Sawyer’s neck for more than two minutes.The video, from a security camera outside the main entrance to the bar, has been played repeatedly during the trial. Various cellphone videos gathered from the scene have also been played, although they are all very brief.Milroy testified that bruising on Sawyer’s throat revealed in autopsy photos is consistent with a chokehold. He said if a chokehold is held for too long, it can lead to brain damage and eventually to death.But under cross-examination by Levy’s lawyer, James Giacomantonio, Milroy said he could see Sawyer moving in the videos, suggesting he was still conscious during the struggle and not having a seizure.In response to defence questions, Milroy said he “couldn’t rule out” the possibility that Sawyer suffered a sudden heart attack or was injured in a scuffle with another bouncer that happened before the altercation with Levy.Before Milroy’s testimony, the court heard Tuesday from two other bouncers who were working the night of Sawyer’s death. Greg White, who was part of the Alehouse security team, said he, Levy and other staff received training on security and self-defence. He said Levy was in charge of the security that night.White said there should have been more bouncers outside the bar when Sawyer and his brother Kyle were ejected. There were only three of them when the altercation started and White said he went inside at one point to summon reinforcements.Osman Barrie, the head of security at a neighbouring bar, Buck Ugly’s, said that he noticed the disturbance that night and went over to help.Barrie said he tried to calm Sawyer down and tried to get others to stand back. He testified that Sawyer was still breathing when police arrived in response to a 911 call.Giacomantonio told Justice James Chipman that the defence needed time to consider its next move. The trial resumes Wednesday morning. MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORBlair Rhodes has been a journalist for more than 40 years, the last 31 with CBC. His primary focus is on stories of crime and public safety. He can be reached at blair.rhodes@cbc.ca
Crown closes case in trial of former bouncer accused of causing Ryan Sawyer’s death
