After 14 hours of deliberation a jury found Peter Khill guilty of manslaughter in the shotgun killing of Jonathan Styres in 2016. The Crown wanted Khill’s bail revoked but the Justice Andrew Goodman allowed Khill’s bail to continue on condition that he surrender his passport to police. Khill will be back in court next week for further deliberation on bail.
Linday Hill, the mother of Styre’s two children told CHCH “ It’s very disappointing that he (Khill ) will be able to go home, see his kids, spend time with his wife, when me and my children don’t get that option.”
Khill had been acquitted in a 2018 trial, but the Crown appealed, and a new trial was ordered last year. A mistrial was declared when it was discovered a juror was an auxiliary police officer and a second new trial was commenced immediately.
The trial hinged on whether or not Khill had other options available to him, when he grabbed a shotgun and came out of his Glanbrook home to confront Styers, who was rummaging through Khill’s pickup truck. Khill fired twice, fatally wounding the Six Nation’s father of two. The Crown contended that Khill could have remained in his house and called 911. Khill testified that he thought he saw Styers reaching for a weapon, and his military training kicked in as he discharged the shotgun. Police said Styers was unarmed.
Manslaughter carries a minimum sentence of four years. A sentencing date has not been set, and Khill’s lawyer, Jeff Manishen would not say if another appeal was being contemplated.
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