The Crown is seeking at least six years in prison for a man who stabbed a woman to death in downtown St. John’s.

Twenty-two-year-old David Quirke at first pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 42-year-old Rayna Dove.

She was pronounced dead in a Cookstown Road boarding house, where both were tenants, more than two years ago, on December 27, 2021.

But three months ago, as the trial was about to start, Quirke instead pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Yesterday, lawyers made submissions to the court on the appropriate sentence in the case.

While the Crown is seeking six to seven years, the defence has countered with a range of two to four years.

The key difference between manslaughter and second-degree murder is the intent, or lack thereof, to kill someone.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 25.