Nova ScotiaA former Halifax Alehouse bouncer accused in the death of a patron nearly three years ago outside the downtown bar testified Wednesday he had the man in a chokehold during a struggle but relaxed the pressure on his neck when the man’s arms stopped moving.Alexander Levy, 40, says he held Ryan Sawyer, 31, in chokehold but then relaxed pressureFormer Alehouse bouncer accused in patron’s death testifiesAlexander Levy is accused of using a chokehold on Ryan Sawyer that led to the 31-year-old’s death on Christmas Eve in 2022. Blair Rhodes has the story. A former Halifax Alehouse bouncer accused in the death of a patron nearly three years ago outside the downtown bar testified Wednesday he had the man in a chokehold during a struggle but relaxed the pressure on his neck when the man’s arms stopped moving.Alexander Levy, the former head of security at the Halifax Alehouse, is on trial in Nova Scotia Supreme Court for criminal negligence causing death and manslaughter in the death of Ryan Sawyer, 31, following a scuffle outside the bar in the early hours of Dec. 24, 2022.Levy, 40, told the court he had deployed a “rear-naked chokehold” close to 100 times during his 16 years in bar security, with the aim of subduing or putting “to sleep” people who were trying to fight. He said he’d “never had any problem after with it,” and no one had been taken to hospital.The court has heard from a medical examiner that the December 2022 altercation and neck restraint caused Sawyer’s heart to stop, and that he died due to a lack of oxygen to the brain.What happened in a few short minutes outside the bar is a crucial aspect of the trial, with video from surveillance cameras and bystanders showing some pieces and angles.WATCH | Video evidence at Alehouse trial:Trial of former Halifax Alehouse bouncer underwayAlexander Levy is charged with manslaughter in the 2022 death of Ryan Sawyer. Richard Cuthbertson has the story. This story contains video footage that shows disturbing moments. The court has heard Sawyer and his twin brother, Kyle Sawyer, were escorted from the Alehouse following a commotion or fight inside. Levy testified he asked the brothers to leave, and that Kyle Sawyer made threatening remarks.Outside, video surveillance footage shows Ryan Sawyer approaching Levy, who is at the door, before Kyle Sawyer shoves the bouncer. Other members of the bar security immediately grab the brothers.Levy first began to grapple with Kyle Sawyer before another bouncer intervened and used his weight to pin him down. Levy returned to a door for a moment, and can be seen on video surveillance picking up Kyle Sawyer’s jacket, which was on the sidewalk, and throwing it into the street.Levy said he then went to help a second bouncer who was struggling with Ryan Sawyer. He said when he grabbed him by the collar, Sawyer “jerked” and fell to his knees. Levy said he was on top of Sawyer’s back, “riding him like a bull.”The two were on the ground and Levy said Sawyer was trying to reach back to punch or grab his face. Levy said he worried he could be “pummelled into the ground” if he let Sawyer up, so he squeezed his neck in a chokehold for between 10 and 15 seconds.He said he let up when Sawyer stopped trying to punch, but kept his arm around his neck, waiting for someone to come help or take over the situation. He said he felt “paralyzed” and couldn’t move.Police officers arrived on scene, Levy said. Someone told him to let go and touched his arm. He said another bouncer had to help him to his feet.Halifax Regional Police Const. Jairus Lamphier told the court earlier in the trial that when he arrived, he saw Levy had Sawyer in a chokehold and was trying to “reef on” him and apply more pressure. On Wednesday, Levy denied that was the case, testifying “I didn’t do that.”Lamphier also told the court that Sawyer was limp, his lips were blue and his eyes were rolled back. He said he demanded Levy let go three or four times, then grabbed his arm before “he finally got the message, I guess, and let go.”Levy faced roughly two hours of cross-examination Wednesday from prosecutor Rob Kennedy. He acknowledged it didn’t appear the brothers had weapons and that he didn’t remember Ryan Sawyer speaking to him at any point.Portions of brief videos taken by bystanders were played and replayed Wednesday. None show Sawyer trying to punch or grab Levy’s face. One shows Sawyer on the ground raising his hand as Levy appears to have him in a chokehold from behind.“Mr. Sawyer’s arm is waving in the air like a white flag,” Kennedy suggested.Levy admitted to punching Kyle Sawyer and kicking him in the face in the first seconds of the scuffle after the shove at the Alehouse door. Kennedy noted Kyle Sawyer’s tuque appears to have fallen over his eyes.Levy testified he was trained in use of force, including in how to use the chokehold, during his early years in bar security, which began in 2006. In those days, he worked for both the Palace bar and the Alehouse, which were adjacent and owned by the same family.The chokehold, he said, was used as a last resort and he was taught it was more preferred than punching, as the aim was to quickly end a fight. Punching could lead to injury, such as a concussion.Levy testified he made $18 an hour as head of security, and described several occasions during his career when he’d been injured by patrons, including one who “dazed” him by punching him in the head and another incident where his shoulder was dislocated.“It’s an intense situation if you’re being attacked,” he said.MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORRichard Cuthbertson is a journalist with CBC Nova Scotia. He can be reached at richard.cuthbertson@cbc.ca.
Former Halifax Alehouse bouncer accused in patron’s death testifies in own defence
