VANCOUVER – Joshua Berner received a life sentence with no parole for 10 years for a fatal stabbing during a 2009 fight.
Berner killed Benjamin Warland, 23, near a Richmond bus stop.
Both young men had just got off a bus and Warland punched Berner’s friend in the head from behind, knocking him out.
Warland then pulled a knife.
During a struggle, Berner got the knife and punched Warland while Berner had the knife in his hand.
Berner is the son of Carole Berner, who was recently convicted of drunk driving involving the death of a four-year-old girl.
Joshua Berner had a previous criminal record but was turning his life around and learning a trade, the court was told.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Ballance imposed the sentence just before noon Friday after hearing a joint submission by the Crown and defence asking for a parole ineligibility period of 10 years.
Berner was convicted last October of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence with no parole for at least 10 years and up to 25 years.
The judge, before imposing sentence, asked Berner if he had anything to say.
"I would like to apologize to the Warland family for what happened," Berner said.
"I was just trying to defend myself."
Berner’s lawyer, David Tarnow, said outside court that he plans to appeal.
The lawyer feels the jury should have acquitted, or at least found his client guilty of manslaughter, a lesser offence.
The judge found it was a "spontaneous brawl."
A lifetime firearms prohibition was also imposed by the judge.
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