A Vancouver man will receive a mandatory life sentence after a jury yesterday found him guilty of shooting and killing his former boss at a Christmas party in 2008.
Eric Kirkpatrick, 63, was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 40-year-old Benjamin Banky.
Crown had pushed for first-degree murder, while defence argued for manslaughter, arguing that Kirkpatrick suffered mental-health issues.
“The jury’s verdict indicates that they didn’t believe the Crown had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that there was planning and deliberation,” defence attorney Richard Fowler said.
