Man Gets 12 Yrs. For Fatal Dating App Meet-up In Fort Greene: DA

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — A Philadelphia man who fatally stabbed a man he just met on a dating app will spend up to 12 years in prison, prosecutors announced Thursday.

David Haigh, 44, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter last month for fatally stabbing 41-year-old James Johnson after the two spent a weekend of sex and drugs together in Johnson's Fort Greene apartment. A judge sentenced Haigh on Thursday to up to 12 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision for the encounter.

“This defendant engaged in risky and dangerous behavior that culminated with a senseless killing of an innocent man," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his deadly actions and I hope it will provide some solace to the victim’s loved ones.”

The weekend began when Haigh connected with Johnson on a dating app in April 2017, according to testimony during his trial.

After 30 hours without sleep, he became paranoid and locked himself and Johnson inside the apartment. The two men then engaged in a physical altercation before Haigh ended up stabbing Johnson 22 times using multiple knives.

Johnson died from the injuries around 6 a.m. on April 9, prosecutors said.

Haigh, who had minor injuries from the encounter, had claimed during the trial that he had been acting in self-defense and was scared for his life. The jury acquitted him of second-degree murder charges, but still found him guilty for manslaughter.

Prosecutors said Haigh had a history of using methamphetamine, which he consumed before the killing. The drug has a propensity to cause paranoia, they added.

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