By Tim Petruk, Kamloops This Week
The family of a man who shot and killed a romantic rival in a Salmon Arm schoolyard nearly nine years ago cried and hugged each other in a Kamloops courtroom on Wednesday after a B.C. Supreme Court judge decided not to hand the man a life sentence.
Now 25, the killer was 16 years old when he murdered 22-year-old Tyler Myers on Nov. 21, 2008. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Sheri Donegan decided to sentence him as a youth, despite an application from prosecutors seeking an adult life sentence.
The killer has been in custody since his arrest in November 2012. He will serve six new years in a provincial prison before being released to serve four years under supervision in the community.
If he had been sentenced as an adult, he would have likely spent about the same amount of time behind bars, but would have been bound by parole conditions for the rest of his life.
Donegan ruled the killer, whose name is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, had been manipulated by his then-girlfriend, 17-year-old Monica Sikorski. Myers and the killer were both involved romantically with Sikorski, who was sentenced to life in prison last year after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
Donegan described Sikorski as the manipulative catalyst behind Myers害羞草研究所� murder. She described the killer as a socially immature and emotionally vulnerable teenager who gave little thought to the consequence of his actions.
害羞草研究所淚 think the judge made the right decision,害羞草研究所� said the killer害羞草研究所檚 mother, who cannot be named to protect her son害羞草研究所檚 identity. 害羞草研究所淗e was held responsible for what happened害羞草研究所� . He is a good person who made a huge mistake. It doesn害羞草研究所檛 make him a bad person.害羞草研究所�
Sikorski and the killer hatched a plan to lure Myers to the schoolyard of Bastion elementary in Salmon Arm with the intent of scaring him, court heard. The killer borrowed a rifle from a friend and hid in a stand of trees while Sikorski left Myers in a pre-determined location.
The killer害羞草研究所檚 first shot struck Myers. He emerged from the wooded are and delivered two additional shots, including one to the back of Myers害羞草研究所� head at Sikorski害羞草研究所檚 urging.
After the murder, Sikorski began dating Myers害羞草研究所� best friend and her relationship with the killer dissolved.
Sikorski and the killer were interviewed by police in the days after the murder, but denied any involvement. They were only arrested after police launched an undercover Mr. Big sting in 2012.
The killer害羞草研究所檚 parents were present for each appearance he made in B.C. Supreme Court, from trivial pre-trial hearings to his jury trial last June.
Donegan cited that support in handing down her sentence, saying the killer, who had no prior criminal record and has been described as 害羞草研究所渁 model prisoner,害羞草研究所� is a low risk to re-offend and has high prospects upon his release from custody.
害羞草研究所淭o say [the killer] is an offender with tremendous family support is an understatement,害羞草研究所� the judge said, also noting the seriousness of the crime.
害羞草研究所淭he crime was callous, especially when [the killer] followed the urging of Ms. Sikorski to shoot the prone Mr. Myers in the head 害羞草研究所� I am convinced [the killer] is in the place he is today because his life intersected with that of Ms. Sikorski.害羞草研究所�
Also in court for nearly all of the proceedings against the killer and Sikorski was Myers害羞草研究所� mother, Barbara. After the sentence was handed down, she told KTW she is relieved it is over and happy with the outcome.
害羞草研究所淚 am really satisfied,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 glad the judge sentenced him as a young offender 害羞草研究所� Like the judge said, she believes he害羞草研究所檚 repentant. I believe he害羞草研究所檚 repentant 害羞草研究所� and now there害羞草研究所檚 hope. He has a ray of hope to prove to society that he can become a better person.害羞草研究所�
Court heard the killer has been taking university courses in prison. He plans to have a degree by the time he is released and hopes to work in construction.
In addition to prison time, the killer must surrender a sample of his DNA to a national criminal database and will be bound by a lifetime firearms prohibition.
Sikorski is expected to become eligible for parole in 2023.
