Jury in Banff stabbing case finds accused guilty of manslaughter not murder
Social Sharing
A man on trial for second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Banff has been found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.
John Sproule, 23, was originally charged with second-degree murder in the September 2022 death of Ryden Brogden, 27.
Jurors began deliberating Tuesday afternoon and returned with the verdict Wednesday at 9 p.m.
Justice Johanna Price will hear sentencing arguments at a later date.
Sproule admitted to fatally stabbing Brogden but maintained he was acting in self-defence.
The weekend of the stabbing, Sproule was in Banff with his family and was out bar-hopping with his brother.
Brogden had stopped in the mountain town with his friend, en route to a fishing trip in B.C. The friends were also bar-hopping.
While outside the Dancing Sasquatch, Sproule asked to bum a cigarette from Brogden.
According to Sproule, Brogden told him to "f–k off" and then pushed and suckerpunched him.
'A knife...in a fist fight'
Sproule testified that Brogden "ragdolled" him down the street, throwing punches and pulling his shirt over his face.
When he was pinned up against a picnic table, Sproule says he pulled out his work knife and began swinging and stabbing at Brogden.
The defence filed photos showing a number of injuries to Sproule's face.
Defence lawyers Cory Wilson and Matt Browne argued their client was "violently and brutally attacked" by Brogden.
Prosecutors Kaitlyn Perrin and Mykel Long argued that Sproule's response to the initial conflict was "not reasonable" and said that he "took a knife out and used it in a fist fight."
The victim suffered 19 stab and slash wounds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
15-04-2025
- CBC
Man sentenced to life in prison for unprovoked Banff bar stabbing
The man convicted of killing 26-year-old Ethan Enns-Goneau at a Banff bar three years ago has been handed a life sentence. John Christopher Arrizza will have to serve 12 years in prison before he can seek parole. The fatal stabbing happened at the Dancing Sasquatch in the mountain town on Aug. 5, 2022. Court heard the victim arrived at the bar at around 1:30 a.m. and headed straight to the bathroom in the basement. Security footage shows that about a minute later, the victim was being pushed out of the bathroom by 24-year-old Arrizza, who stabbed him numerous times with a hunting knife. The attack was described as unprovoked, and the men were unknown to each other prior to the incident. Bouncers stepped in and Enns-Goneau collapsed on the floor. He died soon after from his injuries. An autopsy determined Enns-Goneau was stabbed eight times before being shoved out of the restroom. During the trial, Arrizza's lawyer, Katherin Beyak, argued that her client was intoxicated at the time of the stabbing. She asked the jury to acquit him on the charge of murder. Arrizza was found guilty of second-degree murder following a nine-hour jury deliberation on Sept. 20, 2024. 'You didn't even know him,' said victim's mother Twenty-six victim impact statements were submitted to Justice Robert Hall. Family, friends and colleagues of Ethan Enns-Goneau described their trauma and gave tearful recollections of their time with Ethan, whom they affectionately call Sweet Baby E. "I am tortured by the cruel way you were killed, and all the life you never got to live. It is so unfair. You are gone forever but there is no such timeline for the man who killed you. He will serve whatever time but it will never be enough in my eyes. You didn't even know him," said Gloria Enns-Goneau. She told the court that her son was a kind, old soul who would go out of his way to help anyone. A statement from Lori Ann Peters, the victim's partner, was read in court by the Crown. "Every hope, every dream, every plan and every goal you had for a life with this person is ripped from your hands. How do you begin to articulate that? I've lost a lot of people in my life, friends, family, even my own father, but nothing could have prepared me for losing my life partner. I've cried more these two and a half years than anyone should in a lifetime," said Peters. Arrizza had 14 reference letters submitted on his behalf. During the sentencing hearing, the Crown and defence proposed a 12-year parole ineligibility period. Justice Hall sentenced Arrizza to life imprisonment and agreed with the joint submission on parole. He will be eligible for parole in 12 years.
CBC
06-03-2025
- CBC
Jury in Banff stabbing case finds accused guilty of manslaughter not murder
Social Sharing A man on trial for second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Banff has been found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter. John Sproule, 23, was originally charged with second-degree murder in the September 2022 death of Ryden Brogden, 27. Jurors began deliberating Tuesday afternoon and returned with the verdict Wednesday at 9 p.m. Justice Johanna Price will hear sentencing arguments at a later date. Sproule admitted to fatally stabbing Brogden but maintained he was acting in self-defence. The weekend of the stabbing, Sproule was in Banff with his family and was out bar-hopping with his brother. Brogden had stopped in the mountain town with his friend, en route to a fishing trip in B.C. The friends were also bar-hopping. While outside the Dancing Sasquatch, Sproule asked to bum a cigarette from Brogden. According to Sproule, Brogden told him to "f–k off" and then pushed and suckerpunched him. 'A a fist fight' Sproule testified that Brogden "ragdolled" him down the street, throwing punches and pulling his shirt over his face. When he was pinned up against a picnic table, Sproule says he pulled out his work knife and began swinging and stabbing at Brogden. The defence filed photos showing a number of injuries to Sproule's face. Defence lawyers Cory Wilson and Matt Browne argued their client was "violently and brutally attacked" by Brogden. Prosecutors Kaitlyn Perrin and Mykel Long argued that Sproule's response to the initial conflict was "not reasonable" and said that he "took a knife out and used it in a fist fight." The victim suffered 19 stab and slash wounds.
CBC
04-03-2025
- CBC
Closing arguments take place in Banff stabbing trial
Social Sharing A B.C. man on trial for murder "took a knife out and used it in a fist fight," prosecutor Kaitlyn Perrin told jurors Monday during closing arguments in the case of a fatal stabbing in Banff in 2022. John Sproule, 23, admitted to killing the 27-year-old man outside of a Banff bar in September 2022 but has maintained throughout the trial that he acted in self-defence. "Ryden Brogden's death is tragic," said defence lawyer Cory Wilson. "But tragedy is not evidence of murder." Closing arguments took place Monday. Wilson asked jurors to acquit his client while Perrin asked the panel to find him guilty of second-degree murder. On the September long weekend in 2022, Sproule was in Banff with his parents and other members of his family. Sproule and his brother were bar-hopping on the night of the killing. Brogden, from Priddis, Alta., was with his friend in Banff for the night en route to B.C. for a fishing trip. The victim and accused had never met before the violent interaction in Banff. In the early morning hours of Sept. 3, the two pairs were outside the Dancing Sasquatch when Sproule tried to bum a cigarette from Brogden. A physical altercation ensued. Sproule testified that he was pushed and sucker punched by Brogden, who told him to "f–k off." In response, Sproule testified he said, "What the f–k is wrong with you?" "Johnny Sproule was violently and brutally attacked by Ryden Brogden for absolutely no reason," Wilson told jurors. 'Narrative of lies' From there, Sproule said, Brogden "ragdolled" him around, punching him repeatedly and then pulled his shirt over his head so he couldn't see. Sproule said he couldn't get away and pulled out his work knife from his jeans pocket and swung it at Brogden. The victim suffered 19 stab and slash wounds. "In the course of a fist fight, Mr. Sproule took out a knife and began using it against his opponent," said Perrin. "This is not a reasonable response given the brief nature of this fight." A key witness for the Crown, Howard Pearse, testified he heard Sproule threaten to "shank" Brogden. But even Pearse told a "narrative of lies," argued Wilson. The Crown conceded that Pearse was "impeached on multiple occasions" but still asked jurors to accept his testimony about the shank threat.
