In addition to the high-profile trial of Obnes Regis in the death of his wife Naomi Onotera, 91原创 saw judges rule in two other, very different manslaughter cases in 2024.

In April, former Trinity Western University security guard Jack Cruthers Hutchison was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Glen Hill.

The killing took place on Sept. 30, 2020, when Hill, who suffered from schizophrenia and had not been taking his medication, was spotted wandering around the 91原创 campus, going into student dorm rooms.

Spooked students contacted campus security, and Hutchison spotted Hill running across a sports field, in the direction of a student. Hutchison tackled Hill and held him in a headlock.

When giving her verdict, Justice Catherine Murray agreed with Hutchison's lawyer that the incident began as defence of the students, and self-defence.

鈥淗owever, as time went on, the nature of the incident changed,鈥� Murray said.

Hutchison held onto Hill for too long, with witnesses saying he appeared to be unconscious for about five minutes before police arrived. Hill died due to the blood flow to his brain being cut off by prolonged pressure, according to a pathologist's report.

"At some point, it was clear that Mr. Hill was no longer a threat to anyone,鈥� Murray wrote in her ruling.

Although the case was manslaughter, Murray decided that Hutchison would spend no time behind bars. Instead, she handed down an 18-month condition sentence, including community service. Hill will be under a curfew and other restrictions, but will serve his time in the community.

鈥淗e does not pose a danger to others,鈥� Murray wrote, noting Hutchison鈥檚 lack of a criminal record. 鈥淗e is not a violent man. He is an upstanding member of the community. He adds value to the community. There is no need to protect the community from Mr. Hutchison. In fact, the community is a better place with him in it.鈥�

In another case, a homeless man was sentenced to five years for a crossbow killing in a vacant lot in Willoughby on March 28, 2022.

Jason Robert William Griffiths was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of Nicholas Ball, 29.

The incident began with an accusation by Griffiths that Ball had stolen a cellphone 鈥� Ball angrily denied it in a series of text messages. He later turned up at the vacant lot where Griffiths had been camping and acted in a hostile manner.

Griffiths responded by going back into his tent, getting a loaded crossbow, and demanding that Ball leave. When Ball refused, Griffiths shot him in the torso.

Justice Michael Tammen found Griffiths not guilty of murder, but guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter. He noted in his verdict that while many manslaughter cases are found to be either "near accident" or "near murder" depending on their seriousness, this one was "near self-defence." 

However, while Griffiths may have felt threatened by Ball, it was Griffiths who chose to "up the ante" by getting a lethal weapon, Tammen said.

鈥淢r. Griffiths chose the most dangerous means available to him,鈥� the judge said.

In October, he ruled that a five-year sentence was fit for the severity of the crime. Having spent some of the time since the killing already behind bars, Griffiths had 28 months still to serve of the sentence.