A B.C. man who used a crossbow in a killing in Langley two years ago has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Jason Robert William Griffiths was originally charged with second-degree murder in the March 28, 2022, killing of 29-year-old Nicholas Ball. At trial, Justice Michael Tammen found him guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.
The court heard that Ball was shot in the heart with a crossbow bolt following an argument with Griffiths, who was homeless and camping in a vacant lot.
At trial, the court heard Ball had sent Griffiths hostile and threatening texts before Griffiths shot him during a confrontation.
Justice Tammen rejected Griffiths’ argument the killing was in self-defence, ruling his actions weren’t reasonable.
He noted that after the killing, Griffiths removed the crossbow bolt from Balls’ body, which he also disposed of, then used drugs with another man before calling 911 the following morning.
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However, Tammen found there was also a …