British soldier on trial for manslaughter in Toronto testifies he was defending himself – Toronto [Video]

British soldier Craig Gibson spoke to a jury Wednesday through a thick Scottish accent, recalling his visit to Toronto in August 2023 which ended in tragedy when he got into a fight with Brett Sheffield, a stranger he met in a bar.

“I was certain he had a knife. I saw his hand go back and up, he took his jacket off, I was certain,” said Gibson, who testified he was acting in self-defence when he struck the 38-year-old business man from Winnipeg twice with his elbow to Sheffield’s head.

Gibson, who is on trial for manslaughter, has pleaded not guilty.

The strapping six-foot-three-inch corporal who testified he works for the reconnaissance platoon of the Fourth Battalion Royal Regiment of Scottish Highlanders said he came to Canada as the last minute to attend a reconnaissance patrol competition in Thunder Bay, hosted by the Canadian sister regiment.

It was a 70-kilometre …