Sentence Watch

Second degree murder

R. v. Holt

Crown askedLife, no parole for 10 years1
Judge imposedLife imprisonment, no parole for 10 years1

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 10 years
Judge imposedLife, no parole for 10 years
Defence askedLife, no parole for 10 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.

Brian Roger Holt pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of his 78-year-old former employer at the victim's Vancouver business. Crown and defence jointly proposed life imprisonment with parole ineligibility set at the statutory minimum of 10 years. Justice Ker accepted the joint submission and imposed life imprisonment without parole eligibility for 10 years, citing his guilty plea, lack of a criminal record and realistic prospects for rehabilitation.

In the judge's words

Finally, Mr. Holt's potential for rehabilitation appears to be realistic. He has tried very hard to resolve his longstanding alcohol addiction and appears to be genuinely committed to maintaining sobriety.

1

The record

Convicted of
Prior convictions
0 prior convictions1
At the time of the offence
Not stated1
Defence asked for
Life, no parole for 10 years1
Mandatory minimum
Applied1
Appeal
Not yet checked
Counsel
Crown: B. McCabe, K. Gallo
Defence: J. Heller

More cases by The Honourable Justice Kathleen M. Ker

  1. December 5, 2025
    R. v. Wiwchar, 2025 BCSC 2610Conspiracy to commit murder, Vancouver
    • On release at the time
    20 years in custody (18 years concurrent on the second count), concurrent to sentences already being served; no pre-sentence credit
  2. August 14, 2025
    R. v. Dupray, 2025 BCSC 1681Unauthorized possession of a firearm; Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking, Prince George
    • Below the Crown's ask
    Two years less a day conditional sentence (house arrest, first 12 months electronically monitored), then 3 years probation
  3. June 16, 2025
    R. v. Kim, 2025 BCSC 1823Manslaughter, Vancouver
    14 years' imprisonment, less 1,704 days' credit (3,406 days remaining)
  4. June 12, 2024
    R. v. Bouthillette, 2024 BCSC 1491Manslaughter, Vancouver
    • On release at the time
    12 years imprisonment, less 1,841 days credit for presentence custody (2,539 days remaining)

All cases by The Honourable Justice Kathleen M. Ker (13)

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 Vancouver

  1. September 11, 2026
    R v Stuart, 2026 BCSC 1783Aggravated assault. 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
  2. September 4, 2026
    R. v. C.O., 2026 BCSC 1859Sexual assault; Voyeurism. Justice Christopher W. Greenwood
    • Below the Crown's ask
    3 years 6 months for sexual assault plus 6 months consecutive for voyeurism (4 years total)
  3. August 10, 2026
    R. v. M.E.G., 2026 BCSC 1676Sexual assault; Forcible confinement. Justice Alan M. Ross
    10 years' incarceration on each count, concurrent, less 323 days' pre-sentence credit
  4. July 9, 2026
    R. v. K.C., 2026 BCSC 1289Second degree murder. Justice Heather J. Holmes
    • Below the Crown's ask
    Life imprisonment on each count, concurrent; no parole eligibility for 17 years

All cases in Vancouver (62)

Sources

  1. R. v. Holt, 2022 BCSC 2364 Court decision, CanLII, July 28, 2022[6] At this sentencing hearing, the Crown and the defence presented a joint submission on sentence. They both recommended the same sentence be imposed in the circumstances: the automatic life sentence with the parole ineligibility period set at the statutory minimum of 10 years' imprisonment as provided by s. 745(c) of the Code.[6] At this sentencing hearing, the Crown and the defence presented a joint submission on sentence. They both recommended the same sentence be imposed in the circumstances: the automatic life sentence with the parole ineligibility period set at the statutory minimum of 10 years' imprisonment as provided by s. 745(c) of the Code.[3] Pursuant to s. 235(1) of the Code, the offence of second degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for at least 10 years.[2] Brian Roger Holt is before the Court for sentencing following his guilty plea to one count of second degree murder contrary to s. 235(1) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46 [Code].[51] Mr. Holt has no criminal record.[78] Finally, Mr. Holt's potential for rehabilitation appears to be realistic. He has tried very hard to resolve his longstanding alcohol addiction and appears to be genuinely committed to maintaining sobriety.[84] I sentence you to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until you have served at least 10 years, commencing on the date you were taken into custody.
  2. R. v. Holt, 2022 BCSC 2364 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia

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