Two Prince George men were sentenced to life in prison on Friday, for their role in a shooting that left two men and a dog dead, and seriously injured another man.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church sentenced Seaver Tye Miller, 25, to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 15 years and Joshua Steven West, 37, to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 13 years in relation to the Jan. 25, 2017 incident. Church imposed the sentences proposed as joint submissions by the Crown and the men's defence lawyers. She said West will be eligible for parole sooner because the former heavy equipment operator was "less entrenched in the criminal lifestyle."
The two pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of David Laurin Franks and Thomas Burt Reed. They were shot to death in their car at a pullout alongside Foothills Boulevard after driving to the spot to sell some cocaine.
"While this is not a planned, deliberate murder, they brought shotguns – ostensibly to rob (the victims). They used those shotguns to shoot indiscriminately into the vehicle," Church said on Friday. "The moral blameworthiness of the offenders is significant."
Reed's Shih Tzu dog, Molly, was also killed in the shooting.
Bradley William Knight, who dove onto the back seat floor of the car, was badly injured but survived the attack.
Friends and family of the shooters and the victims filled the available seats at the courthouse during a sentencing hearing on Thursday to hear counsels' submissions which include victim impact statements from Knight and relatives of Reed and Franks.
Knight said the wounds he suffered left him with balance troubles and constant pain that requires over-the-counter medication. He said he had to endure isolation from family and friends due to witness protection and feeling afraid while in certain areas of the city, "always looking over my shoulder."
Reed's sister, Natalie Jones, said her brother struggled with addiction but nonetheless held down steady work.
The court has heard Reed agreed to drive Franks to the scene to carry out the transaction while Knight had come along for the ride and Fletcher made note of Reed's generosity.
"He was the guy who always helped people and said 'I'll give you a ride,' and it took his life," Jones said.
Franks' father, Larry, said his son has two daughters and that he will never be able to see his grandson or granddaughter.
Reed was 51 years old and Franks 46 years old at the time of their deaths. Miller's proposed sentence is longer in part due to a criminal record that included a conviction for assault that led to a firearms prohibition. It also appeared it was his idea to lure Franks to the spot with the aim of stealing his drugs.
In November 2019, Aaron Ryan Moore was sentenced to five years on two counts of criminal negligence causing death in relation to the crime. Less credit for time served, he had 9 1/2 months remaining.
A sentencing hearing for Perry Andrew Charlie, who was found guilty of second-degree murder following a trial in November 2019, is scheduled for Dec. 12.
All four have remained in custody since their arrests shortly after the incident.
