The accused was charged with second-degree murder after shooting the victim in a liquor store parking lot following a brief verbal altercation over social distancing.
The accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter, arguing that a combination of provocation (a racial slur and a brandished knife) and marijuana intoxication negated the specific intent for murder.
The court rejected the accused's evidence as not credible, finding that he deliberately followed the victim out of the store with a drawn, illegal handgun to confront him.
The court held that the Crown disproved the defences of provocation and intoxication beyond a reasonable doubt, and found the accused guilty of second-degree murder.
