Halifax man pleads guilty to killing his mother in ‘fit of rage’ last fall

CITYnews halifax / By Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — A 41-year-old Halifax man pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree murder after he admitted to attacking his mother in a “fit of rage” last fall.

Jonathan William Pinsky entered his plea of guilty in a steady and clear voice as he answered Justice Josh Arnold during an appearance in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Police were conducting a well-being check when they found the body of 71-year-old Delina Pinsky in an apartment near Quinpool Road in Halifax on Oct. 10.

According to an agreed statement of facts read in court by Crown attorney Stephen Anstey, Pinsky admitted to punching, kicking and then stabbing his mother in the neck in a “fit of rage” on Oct. 1 after she told him to leave the apartment for good following a disagreement.

“He punched her and kicked her, mostly in the rib area,” Anstey read from the statement. “After attacking her he put her in a closet where he believed she was ‘already probably dying’. He retrieved a knife and stabbed her in the neck, still in a rage.”

Pinsky told police that before the attack he thought his mother might be angry with him because she had to “yell to get his attention to turn on the subtitles on her DVD” she was watching.

According to the statement, Pinsky also “briefly” attempted to smother her with pillows but it “didn’t work.” After she was dead he covered his mother with a blanket and left the premises.

Court was told that Pinsky was seen by a co-worker on Oct. 11, who then reported his whereabouts to police. He was arrested later that day.

Following the plea, the judge requested that a pre-sentence report be filed by June 2 and he scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 2.

Outside court, Anstey told reporters that Pinsky, who has been in jail since his arrest, had been looking to “resolve this matter for some time.”

“He provided a very fulsome confession within 12 hours of his arrest, wherein he took full responsibility for what he did to his mother,” said Anstey. The Crown attorney said he expects there will be a joint recommendation on sentencing.

“He will be receiving a sentence of life imprisonment, the only issue is going to be the eligibility for parole,” he said.

Second-degree murder carries a mandatory minimum for parole eligibility of 10 years, and Anstey said that is the planned recommendation because Pinsky has no prior criminal record and this is his first involvement with the criminal justice system.

An obituary for Delina “Lana” Pinsky, described her as a “beacon of grace and creativity.” It said her true passion was her work as the reading support coordinator for the North End Public Library in Halifax.

“For over three decades, Lana devoted herself to connecting children with free tutors and mentors, ensuring every young learner had a chance to thrive. Her unwavering commitment touched countless lives leaving a legacy of hope and opportunity that will endure for generations,” it read.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2025.

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press