Jury in Banff stabbing case finds accused guilty of manslaughter not murder

Meghan Grant · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 05, 2025 11:16 PM EST | Last Updated: March 6

A antheral connected proceedings for second-degree execution successful transportation with a fatal stabbing successful Banff has been recovered blameworthy of the lesser offence of manslaughter. 

John Sproule, 23, was primitively charged with second-degree execution successful the September 2022 decease of Ryden Brogden, 27.

Jurors began deliberating Tuesday day and returned with the verdict Wednesday astatine 9 p.m.

Justice Johanna Price volition perceive sentencing arguments astatine a aboriginal date. 

• Man connected proceedings for Banff execution says helium was acting successful self-defence

Sproule admitted to fatally stabbing Brogden but maintained helium was acting successful self-defence. 

The play of the stabbing, Sproule was successful Banff with his household and was retired bar-hopping with his brother. 

Brogden had stopped successful the upland municipality with his friend, en way to a sportfishing travel successful B.C. The friends were besides bar-hopping. 

• Closing arguments instrumentality spot successful Banff stabbing trial

While extracurricular the Dancing Sasquatch, Sproule asked to bum a cigaret from Brogden.

According to Sproule, Brogden told him to "f–k off" and past pushed and suckerpunched him. 

'A knife...in a fist fight'

Sproule testified that Brogden "ragdolled" him down the street, throwing punches and pulling his garment implicit his face. 

When helium was pinned up against a picnic table, Sproule says helium pulled retired his enactment weapon and began swinging and stabbing astatine Brogden.

The defence filed photos showing a fig of injuries to Sproule's face. 

Defence lawyers Cory Wilson and Matt Browne argued their lawsuit was "violently and brutally attacked" by Brogden.

Prosecutors Kaitlyn Perrin and Mykel Long argued that Sproule's effect to the archetypal struggle was "not reasonable" and said that helium "took a weapon retired and utilized it successful a fist fight."

The unfortunate suffered 19 stab and slash wounds.