CT man convicted of manslaughter in fatal New Fairfield stabbing

A New Fairfield man was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the 2022 death of a Sandy Hook man who was stabbed in the chest during an assault, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

A jury in Danbury Superior Court found Patrick Griffin, 60, of New Fairfield, guilty of first-degree manslaughter on Tuesday in the death of 65-year-old James Knapp, Danbury State’s Attorney David R. Applegate said in a statement Thursday. Griffin’s sentencing is scheduled for July 10.

State police troopers and New Fairfield officers were dispatched to Griffin’s home on East Hillview Drive in New Fairfield at about 9:20 p.m. on May 7, 2022, on a report of an active assault. According to court reports, Griffin stabbed Knapp in the chest during the incident.

Knapp was transported to Danbury Hospital with a stab wound and later pronounced dead at the hospital, state police said. Griffin also was taken to Danbury Hospital and later taken into custody by Western District Major Crime Troop A detectives.