Life sentence, no parole for 14 years for man convicted of murder in New Westminster stabbing
A man convicted of second-degree murder for a fatal stabbing in New Westminster has been handed a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 14 years, homicide investigators announced Thursday.
Ryan Crossley received his sentence on April 23 in connection to the 2021 killing of 51-year-old Robert Powshuk. On Nov. 19 of that year, Powshuk entered a coffee shop on Columbia Street with life-threatening injuries. In spite of help from first responders, Powshuk died.
Video surveillance video revealed Powshuk was "involved in a violent altercation" with two men, investigators said, who were later identified as Crossley brothers, Ryan and Curtis.
Ryan was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder on Sept. 23, 2023.
Curtis pleaded guilty to manslaughter in August 2023 and was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison, with no parole eligibility. An agreed upon statement of facts said while Curtis was holding a knife during the attack, all of the victim's stab wounds were inflicted by Ryan.
"Curtis Crossley did nothing to stop Ryan Crossley, but rather participated in the assault, including kicking Mr. Powshuk as he lay on the ground," Justice Andrew Mayer wrote in his sentencing decision for Curtis last year, describing the aggravating factors in the case. "Mr. Powshuk was defenceless throughout this attack. After the attack, Curtis Crossley sprayed Mr. Powshuk in the face with bear spray as he lay on the ground."
Curtis also helped his brother clean up the scene and threw his own knife into the Fraser River after the pair fled, Mayer noted.
"This was an extremely graphic and disturbing incident that occurred in our downtown core," said Deputy Chief Const. Paul Hyland in a statement released Thursday. "I want to thank the (New West Police Department) members who first responded to the scene as well as those members who assisted IHIT in bringing this file to its conclusion with a successful conviction and sentencing of these two subjects."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Lisa Steacy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
After more than 100 years, Newfoundland's unknown soldier returns home
An unknown Newfoundland soldier, who fought and died on the battlefields in northeastern France during the First World War, is back home this weekend for the first time in more than a hundred years.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.