Brandon Giffen has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Kristian Ayoungman.

Giffen was initially charged with first-degree murder in relation to Ayoungman’s death. He was acquitted of murder on Monday.

Ayoungman was shot on a highway outside Strathmore by Brandon Giffen on March 17, 2019 after a conflict with the Giffen brothers in the town of Strathmore.

His brother, Kody Giffen, was found guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Outside of Court of Queens Bench in Calgary Kristian’s mother Melodie Ayoungman said “My son didn’t deserve this. His life was taken wrongfully. What happened to him? He was murdered. Anyone that’s going to aim a gun, any type of rifle, you get a licence to go hunting. They teach you not to aim it where there are human beings.”

She said her son and his friends were chased through Strathmore by the Giffens.

“These boys who had a hunting rifle, a high-powered hunting rifle in their car. They didn’t stop. They had numerous chances to stop, turn around and not do this. The person that took my son’s life was sober. He definitely knew what he was doing.”

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Robert Hall said, “I cannot conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused subjectively knew it was likely that death would result from him firing the rifle. Aiming and shooting the rifle was a shameful and reckless decision by the accused. But I cannot say the accused knew that death was the likely consequence of him doing so.”

Hall said Brandon and Kody Giffen were “actively engaged” in chasing the victim’s group out of Strathmore.

A murder conviction is the deliberate killing of someone. Manslaughter means the accused is responsible for the death, but it may have been unintentional, even if there was a desire to cause harm. A manslaughter conviction has no minimum starting point, but can also result in a life sentence.

It is unclear what the sentencing is at this time.

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Kody Giffen Sentenced To Four Years

https://strathmorenow.com/stories/kody-giffen-sentenced-to-four-years