(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)
May 29, 2017 - 3:03 PM
KAMLOOPS - It has been more than eight years since 22-year-old Tyler Myers was shot and killed on the grounds of a Salmon Arm school, but his killer could learn his fate later this week.
The gunman cannot be identified because he was just 16 years old at the time of the November 2008 murder. It's not yet known if the now 25-year-old will be sentenced as a youth or as an adult.
During a hearing in Kamloops Supreme Court today, May 29, defence lawyer Donna Turko gave an update on psychiatric and psychological reports she had ordered on behalf of her client earlier this year.
Turko expects a psychologist to testify during a hearing tomorrow and give evidence on the gunman's psychological state at the time of the murder.
Court has heard throughout proceedings how the gunman and his girlfriend at the time, 17-year-old Monica Sikorski, conspired to murder Myers, who was Sikorski's other boyfriend.
Sikorski pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her part in the crime last year and was sentenced as an adult to life in prison with no eligibility of parole for seven years.
Lawyers have said Sikorski lured Myers to the Salmon Arm school, while the teenaged gunman hid out and waited to take his shot.
The man's lawyer has argued her client was addicted to love and was manipulated by Sikorski to commit the crime.
In the days following the 2008 murder, Sikorski and the gunman were questioned by police officers, but they denied their involvement. Four years later, an undercover police operation led to the arrests of Sikorski and her co-accused.
Crown prosecutor Evan Goulet has previously said that the gunman almost got away with murder.
Kamloops Supreme Court judge Sheri Donegan told the court that she hopes to have this matter completely dealt with by the end of this week. The defence's application hearing will continue tomorrow morning.
If the gunman is sentenced as an adult, his name will be made public. He's also expected to address the court tomorrow.
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