A man convicted of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of a much-loved Vancouver park caretaker has been sentenced to life in prison without parole eligibility for 12 years.
Kitsilano resident Brent Steven White was convicted on May 9 in the death of Justis Daniel, caretaker of Tatlow Park. The case was heard in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver with Justice Miriam Maisonville presiding.
“This was violent, brutal and prolonged attack,” Maisonville said in her July 16 decision, calling the assault on the vulnerable and ill Daniel in his home, “terrifying and violent.”
“Why this crime occurred is unknown,” Maisonville said. “The nature of this crime is horrific.”
The 77-year-old musician was found slain in his home on Dec. 10, 2021, on the city’s west side.
Maisonville said Daniel had done nothing to contribute to the events other than invite White into his home for a glass of water.
Crown prosecutor Colleen Smith told Maisonville that Daniel “was well-known and was liked by neighbourhood residents.”
The court heard Daniel was stabbed 42 times and suffered 17 blunt force injuries to his head, arms and hands. Many of his injuries were from defending himself from the onslaught, Maisonville said.
“All of the injuries were to the front of Mr. Daniel’s body,” the judge said.
Under questioning from Smith on Jan. 28, White said he had no idea how several rugs and jackets wound up covering bloodied areas of Daniel’s Tatlow Park residence.
While White admitted he killed Daniel, he claimed self-defence and that he did not have the requisite intent for murder.
"Mr. White stabbed Mr. Daniel causing his death," defence lawyer Connor Doherty has told the court.
Smith called Daniel a “vibrant member of the Kitsilano community” since 1970.
White testified Jan. 20 that the incident began when Daniel bit his neck, leading to a confrontation in which White had a knife.
“‘I’m Iblis,’” White said Daniel told him. (Iblis is the Islamic name for Satan.)
White said Daniel then retrieved a sharp throwing knife from a coffee table and threw it at him.
“He directly projected it at my face,” he said.
“I feared for my life; absolutely shocked and speechless.”
White took no responsibility for the offence and minimized his actions, Smith said.
Daniel’s death was Vancouver’s 17th homicide in 2021.
Who was Justis Daniel?
The Texas-born father of one was known as a talented singer and guitar player.
His son and former wife read victim impact statements to the court on July 11.
Son Ameris Daniel said his father wanted to hold his eventual grandchild.
“I have no doubt if it had not been for Brent White’s actions, his wish would have been fulfilled,” Ameris Daniel said via video.
He said the family has been devastated by the loss of a kind, loving and wise “great man.”
Former wife Susan Daniel told the judge the couple came together through a love of making music and bonded deeply, despite a divorce, as they co-parented their son.
Her former husband’s death was “brought about brutally and needlessly,” she said.
Not criminally responsible
The issue of a finding of not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder had arisen in the case.
But, Maisonville said, there was no evidence of mental health issues before the court.
Defence lawyer Brent Anderson said White had instructed him not to seek such a finding.
Anderson said the court was not bound by lawyers’ submissions on that issue and can make such a determination on its own.
