First degree murder, Attempted murder with a firearm
R. v. B.N.T.
A publication ban applies. The offender is not named.
- On release at the time
Sentence and the Crown's position
What the law allows
A jury convicted the offender of first degree murder and of the attempted murder of a second person, both shot on a residential street in Surrey in October 2017 in what the judge described as an organized killing. The Crown sought life imprisonment on both counts; the defence sought 12 to 15 years on the attempted murder count. Justice Duncan imposed the mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years and a concurrent 14-year sentence for the attempted murder.
In the judge's words
1This case bore all the hallmarks of an organized killing. Two guns, multiple attempts by cellphone to connect with the victim, and finally a meeting at a dark residential street where the murder and attempted murder occurred.
The record
- Convicted of
- First degree murder (CC 231(2))
- Attempted murder with a firearm (CC 239(1)(a.1))
- Prior convictions
- 4 prior convictions1
- At the time of the offence
- On bail1
- Mandatory minimum
- Applied1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: D. Wiedemann, C.E. Richardson, A. Smith
Defence: R. Mansoori-Dara
Sources
- R. v. B.N.T., 2026 BCSC 679 Court decision, CanLII, April 1, 2026
[3] While there is a mandatory life sentence for first degree murder, I must nevertheless make findings of fact on that count, and more particularly on the attempted murder count.
[37] At the time of the offences before me, … was on bail in relation to Information 218442 which included offences of aggravated assault and uttering threats.
[33] … He has a criminal record. [34] On February 5, 2014, he was sentenced for possession for the purpose of trafficking … [35] A year later, on March 3, 2015, he was sentenced for flight from a peace officer … [36] On September 21, 2016, he was sentenced for possession for the purpose of trafficking and received 328 days in jail and another s. 109 firearms prohibition. That same day, he received one day in jail for obstructing a peace officer
[61] … This case bore all the hallmarks of an organized killing. Two guns, multiple attempts by cellphone to connect with the victim, and finally a meeting at a dark residential street where the murder and attempted murder occurred.
[63] … for the first degree murder of your friend, … I impose a sentence of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole until you have served 25 years from the date of your arrest. … [65] For the offence of Count 2, attempted murder of Person A, I sentence you to 14 years imprisonment concurrent with Count 1.
- R. v. B.N.T., 2026 BCSC 679 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia