A man with a notorious history has been formally charged with Vancouver manslaughter in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred last year. David Richard Morin, 32, now faces accusations in the death of 54-year-old Michael Smadu, an event that has reignited public debate over the efficacy of the criminal justice system in British Columbia.
Vancouver police were dispatched to a residence near East 6th Avenue and Fraser Street just before 1 a.m. on September 3, 2025, following reports of a stabbing. Despite the urgent efforts of first responders, Smadu tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene, never reaching a hospital. The charges against Morin come after a year-long investigation into the harrowing incident.
Escalating Violence: The Vancouver Manslaughter Case
Morin’s name is not unfamiliar to local law enforcement or the public. Just four years prior, in 2022, he gained notoriety for a chilling, random act of violence inside a downtown Vancouver Tim Hortons. There, he repeatedly stabbed a 25-year-old Mexican tourist who was simply waiting in line, an unprovoked assault that shocked the city. Morin subsequently pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a three-year jail sentence.
His release from prison in June 2024, however, marked the beginning of another disturbing chapter. Within months, Morin was rearrested in October for breaching conditions of his statutory release. The Vancouver Police Department had even issued public warnings regarding Morin’s “significant risk to the community and his high risk of re-offending” upon his initial release, and again in November 2024 when he was living in a halfway house.
City Councillor Peter Meiszner has voiced profound frustration, labeling Morin as “the poster child for everything that’s wrong with our criminal justice system.” This sentiment gained further traction as Morin continued to accumulate charges. He was declared unlawfully at large in January 2025, leading to a 20-day jail sentence in May. Later that year, in December, he committed a robbery in Surrey and a theft just two weeks afterward. For these offenses, he received 132 days in jail and two years’ probation in March of the current year. The new Vancouver manslaughter charge was laid while he was serving time for these more recent crimes.
Former prosecutor Rob Dhanu emphasized the severe nature of Morin’s pattern of behavior. He suggested that, following any future convictions, the Crown could pursue designating Morin as a dangerous offender, leading to indefinite incarceration. “This is your classic dangerous offender type case… escalating conduct,” Dhanu stated, questioning the ability to control such behavior in the future. As criticisms about Canada’s judicial landscape are intensifying, many are calling for immediate reforms.
Morin, who was reportedly just days away from completing his robbery sentence, will now remain in custody due to the gravity of the Vancouver manslaughter charge. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 3, facing potentially decades more behind bars, leaving the community to grapple with the implications of such persistent violent conduct.
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