B.C. crossbow killer sentenced to five years in prison for Langley murder in 2022 – B.C

A British Columbia man who used a crossbow in a murder 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, death of 29-year-old Nicholas Ball. At the trial, Judge Michael Tammen found him guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter.

The court heard Ball was shot in the heart with a crossbow bolt after an argument with Griffiths, who was homeless and camping on a vacant lot.

During the trial, the court heard that Ball had sent Griffiths hostile and threatening text messages before Griffiths shot him during a confrontation.

Judge Tammen rejected Griffiths’ argument that the killing was in self-defense and ruled that his actions were not reasonable.

He noted that after the murder, Griffiths removed the crossbow bolt from Balls’ body, which he also disposed of, then did drugs with another man before calling 911 the next morning.

However, Tammen noted that there was also reasonable doubt that Griffiths had intended to kill Ball.

“They knew each other, they weren’t strangers, it was unfortunate that they got into the argument that they had,” said Griffith’s attorney Bobby Movassaghi.

“The argument resulted in threats, in the days leading up to it there were threats from Mr Ball towards Mr Griffiths, that night it escalated and unfortunately it ended the way it did.”

Friends of the victim said they wanted the public to know how special he was.

“Nick is loved by so many people and he touched so many lives in ways that you can’t explain, only experience, and when you get to know Nick, you understand,” friend Michelle Raymond said in a statement.

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“Nick wasn’t a perfect person, but no one is, and that’s what made him human.”

She went on to say she understands the need for rehabilitation but feels this is the case.It has already been proven that the perpetrator has very little willingness to commit to this.”

In his sentencing, Tammen noted that Griffiths has suffered from a substance use disorder for nearly two decades, which began when he was prescribed Oxycontin after a motorcycle accident.

Griffiths had no other previous convictions and did not commit any other offenses while on bail.

Aggravating factors in the case included the use of a deadly weapon and the fact that Griffiths took no steps to obtain medical attention for Ball after shooting him.

Mitigating factors included that Ball had previously threatened Griffiths and behaved aggressively and that Griffiths had expressed what Tammen perceived as genuine remorse.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of nine years in prison, while Griffiths’ lawyer argued for a sentence of two and a half to three years.

Tammen chose five years, which gives Griffiths two years and two months more time to serve after credit for time served.

He was also given a 10-year weapons ban and must provide a DNA sample.

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