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
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
'Love has no boundaries': Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.