PANAMA CITY — A love-lost Chipley woman who stabbed her boyfriend to death in an American Legion parking lot was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison Thursday.
Earnestine “Tina” Canuet, 65, pleaded no contest to manslaughter after an October 2013 stabbing at the Southport American Legion Post 375 at 6937 State 77, where 68-year-old Richard Lielasus suffered a 6-inch gash to the left side of his stomach.
En route to the jail after the stabbing, Canuet was in hysterics, making several outbursts, according to arrest records. “He broke my heart,” she said. “He told me to suck it up and get over it; I don’t know why I did it but I just did, and I’ve never hurt anyone before.”
Lielasus died from his wounds about a month later.
The charges against Canuet were upgraded from aggravated battery with a deadly weapon to manslaughter before a doctor deemed her incompetent to proceed in February due to depression.
One witness told investigators Canuet came into the Legion’s bar Oct. 21 waving the bloodied 12-inch blade in the air, stating, “I did it; I killed him,” according to arrest records.
Circuit Court Judge Elijah Smiley ruled Canuet was competent to continue court proceedings Aug. 18.
She pleaded no contest on Aug. 28 and Smiley sentenced her Thursday to almost 10 years in prison followed by two years probation.