Sentence Watch

Second degree murder

R. v. Powery-Hooker

Crown askedLife, no parole for 20 years1
Judge imposedLife imprisonment, no parole for 20 years; lifetime s. 109 prohibition, DNA order1

Both are life sentences, so the bars compare how long before parole can be considered.

What the law allows

MaximumLife imprisonment
Crown askedLife, no parole for 20 years
Judge imposedLife, no parole for 20 years
Defence askedLife, no parole for 20 years
For second degree murder (CC 231(7)), the Criminal Code makes life imprisonment mandatory; the judge sets how long before parole can first be considered. Life is drawn at 25 years for scale. Read the section.

Calvin Junior Powery-Hooker pleaded guilty to second degree murder for a 2019 shooting at a South Surrey drive-thru, carried out with a co-accused for compensation. Crown and defence jointly proposed life imprisonment with no parole for 20 years. Justice Brundrett accepted the joint submission, finding that denunciation and deterrence of public gun violence outweighed the offender's youth, guilty plea and remorse.

In the judge's words

The harmful personal and societal effects of this type of deliberate gun violence and disregard for public safety must be deterred and denounced in the strongest possible terms. Those who might consider taking up firearms and engaging in such public shootings should know unquestionably that the punishment for their actions will be severe.

1

The record

Convicted of
Prior convictions
Not recorded
At the time of the offence
Not stated1
Defence asked for
Life, no parole for 20 years1
Mandatory minimum
Applied1
Appeal
Not yet checked
Counsel
Crown: T. Iandiorio, S. Currie-Roberts
Defence: T.M. Arbogast, K.A. Kirkpatrick

More cases by The Honourable Justice Michael J. Brundrett

  1. December 5, 2025
    R. v. B.H.H., 2025 BCSC 2545Sexual interference, Fort St. John
    • Below the Crown's ask
    4.5 years imprisonment less 2 days' credit; DNA order, s. 109 weapons prohibition, SOIRA 20 years
  2. October 9, 2025
    R. v. Campbell, 2025 BCSC 2302Manslaughter with a firearm, Surrey
    • On release at the time
    5 years in custody less 1,100 days' pre-sentence credit, then 24 months probation
  3. February 7, 2024
    R. v. B.G.E.B., 2024 BCSC 660Sexual assault, Duncan
    • Below the Crown's ask
    • No jail for a violent offence
    Two years less a day conditional sentence (18 months concurrent on the other count), then 3 years probation
  4. October 23, 2023
    R. v. Ratchford, 2023 BCSC 2492Manslaughter with a firearm, Terrace
    12 years imprisonment less 948 days credit (3,432 days left), 5 years concurrent on two firearms counts

All cases by The Honourable Justice Michael J. Brundrett (5)

More second degree murder cases

  1. July 10, 2026
    R. v. Jafari, 2026 BCSC 1468Manslaughter, Burnaby. Justice Michael Tammen
    10 years imprisonment less 1,130 days pre-sentence credit; 82 months going forward
  2. July 9, 2026
    R. v. K.C., 2026 BCSC 1289Second degree murder, Vancouver. Justice Heather J. Holmes
    • Below the Crown's ask
    Life imprisonment on each count, concurrent; no parole eligibility for 17 years
  3. May 26, 2026
    R. v. Dennis, 2026 BCSC 1113Second degree murder, Prince George. Justice Simon R. Coval
    Life imprisonment, no parole for 10 years (concurrent on both counts)
  4. May 15, 2026
    R. v. Freeman, 2026 BCSC 998Second degree murder; Manslaughter with a firearm, Chilliwack. Justice Andrea L. Ormiston
    • Below the Crown's ask
    Life imprisonment, no parole for 10 years (second degree murder); 8 years concurrent for manslaughter

All second degree murder cases (56)

More from the Supreme Court of British Columbia

  1. September 18, 2026
    R v Alves, 2026 BCSC 1792Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking; Production of a Schedule I or II substance; Possession of anything for use in producing or trafficking a controlled substance, Maple Ridge. Justice Terence A. Schultes
    3 years' imprisonment on counts 1 and 2 and 2 years on count 3, concurrent
  2. September 15, 2026
    R. v. C.S.M., 2026 BCSC 1770Manslaughter, Coquitlam. Justice David M. Layton
    2 years and 99 days in custody, less 99 days credit (2 years remaining)
  3. September 11, 2026
    R. v. Dansereau, 2026 BCSC 1781Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm; Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking; Possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order, Rossland. Justice Jacqueline D. Hughes
    5 years in custody (3.5 years firearm, concurrent 24 months drug, plus 1.5 years consecutive for breach of weapons prohibition), less 978 days credit
  4. September 11, 2026
    R v Stuart, 2026 BCSC 1783Aggravated assault, Vancouver. Justice Elin Sigurdson
    • Below the Crown's ask
    • No jail for a violent offence
    Two years less one day conditional sentence (201 days credited), followed by probation

All cases from the Supreme Court of British Columbia (520)

More cases in Surrey

  1. August 19, 2026
    R. v. J.A.M., 2026 BCSC 1663Sexual interference. Justice Tina L. Dion
    • Below the Crown's ask
    6 years in custody
  2. May 12, 2026
    R. v. K.B.R.M., 2026 BCSC 1127Manslaughter. Justice Terence A. Schultes
    • Below the Crown's ask
    8 years in custody, less 4 years, 7 months and 12 days of credit for pre-sentence custody (3 years, 4 months and 18 days remaining)
  3. April 30, 2026
    R. v. Gill, 2026 BCSC 997Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm; Reckless discharge of a restricted or prohibited firearm. Justice Baljinder Kaur Girn
    5 years for discharging a prohibited firearm at a place, with 40 months concurrent for possessing a loaded firearm, less 15 days pre-trial credit
  4. April 10, 2026
    R. v. Sangha, 2026 BCSC 655Importing or exporting a Schedule I or II substance. Justice John Gibb-Carsley
    5 and a half years imprisonment

All cases in Surrey (32)

Sources

  1. R. v. Powery-Hooker, 2021 BCSC 2005 Court decision, CanLII, September 10, 2021[4] The sole question before the Court is the determination of the appropriate period of parole ineligibility. All counsel put forward a joint submission for both offenders in support of sentences of life imprisonment with a 20 year period of parole ineligibility.[4] The sole question before the Court is the determination of the appropriate period of parole ineligibility. All counsel put forward a joint submission for both offenders in support of sentences of life imprisonment with a 20 year period of parole ineligibility.[6] Section 745(c) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46 provides for a parole eligibility range on a charge of second degree murder between a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years.[50] Mr. Powery-Hooker, could you stand up, please. [51] I hereby sentence you to a period of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 20 years.[47] … The harmful personal and societal effects of this type of deliberate gun violence and disregard for public safety must be deterred and denounced in the strongest possible terms. Those who might consider taking up firearms and engaging in such public shootings should know unquestionably that the punishment for their actions will be severe.[50] Mr. Powery-Hooker, could you stand up, please. [51] I hereby sentence you to a period of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 20 years.
  2. R. v. Powery-Hooker, 2021 BCSC 2005 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia

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