Manslaughter with a firearm, Weapons trafficking
R. v. Bos
Sentence and the Crown's position
Crown asked6940 days in custody1
Judge imposed19 years' imprisonment (13 years and 6 years consecutive for two manslaughters, 6 years concurrent for the firearm offence), less 1,490 days' credit1
What the law allows
MaximumLife imprisonment
Crown asked6940 days in custody
Judge imposed6940 days in custody
Defence asked6940 days in custody
Minimum4 years
Justin Michael Bos was convicted by a jury of one count of manslaughter with a firearm and pleaded guilty to a second count of manslaughter with a firearm and to manufacturing or transferring restricted firearms, for two fatal shootings in 2022. The Crown and defence jointly proposed a global sentence of 19 years. Justice Forth imposed 19 years' imprisonment, less 1,490 days' credit, stating that denunciation and deterrence were the paramount objectives.
In the judge's words
1[79] For cases involving manslaughter with a firearm and the firearm offences, the paramount objectives of sentencing are denunciation and general and specific deterrence.
The record
- Convicted of
- Manslaughter with a firearm (CC 236(a), 2 counts)
- Weapons trafficking (CC 99(2))
- Prior convictions
- Not recorded
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- 6940 days in custody1
- Mandatory minimum
- Applied1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: L. Kristjanson, S. Bertrand, A. Dorin
Defence: J. Heller
Sources
- R. v. Bos, 2025 BCSC 1126 Court decision, CanLII, June 6, 2025
[4] The Crown and defence jointly submit that the just and appropriate global sentence for all counts in the circumstances is 19 years in jail.
[4] The Crown and defence jointly submit that the just and appropriate global sentence for all counts in the circumstances is 19 years in jail.
[53] Pursuant to s. 236(a) of the Code, committing manslaughter by a firearm is an indictable offence punishable by a minimum sentence of four years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life. … [57] This is Mr. Bos' first conviction under s. 99(1), and as such the three-year minimum sentence applies.
[1] On November 15, 2024, after an almost three-week trial, a jury found Justin Michael Bos guilty of manslaughter with a firearm
[79] For cases involving manslaughter with a firearm and the firearm offences, the paramount objectives of sentencing are denunciation and general and specific deterrence.
[89] You are entitled to an enhanced credit for the time served in pre-trial custody of 1,490 days. Your sentence of 19 years is equivalent to 6,940 days. The remaining sentence you must serve is 5,450 days, being 14 years and 335 days.
- R. v. Bos, 2025 BCSC 1126 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia