The use of a knife to kill an unarmed person, even in response to provocation involving a serious insult and minor assault, justifies a sentence towards the higher end of the range for unlawful and dangerous act manslaughter. General deterrence of knife use is a central and significant sentencing factor. An appellate court will not interfere with a sentencing judge's assessment of the weight to be given to mitigating factors absent identifiable or manifest sentencing error.
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