James Dylan Sanford, 35, was initially charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of Daniel Myles in September 2020.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP

A Kamloops man will spend roughly three more years in jail for a killing outside a local motel in 2020.

James Dylan Sanford, 35, was convicted of manslaughter by a jury in January, awaiting a judge's sentence until today, Nov. 7.

He tried but failed to convince the jury he was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Daniel Myles outside a Columbia Street motel.

"Mr. Sanford was living in fear of Mr. Myles," Justice Sheri Ann Donegan said when reading her decision in court.

READ MORE: Jury finds accused guilty of manslaughter in Kamloops motel stabbing

Before the September 2020 stabbing, Myles sent several threatening text messages to Sanford, believing Sanford was working with other people to hide his girlfriend from him, the court heard.

He sent text messages to both Sanford and others over weeks, telling them, at separate times, he was going to shoot and stab Sanford at the motel.

Myles smashed the window of Sanford's motel room hours before the stabbing, and Sanford later smelled gasoline. Myles was planning to set fire to Sanford's room, the court heard.

RCMP were aware of the "slowly escalating" conflict between the two, and on the morning of Sept. 12, 2020, Sanford left the motel with a knife and planned to put an end to Myle's threatening behaviour.

Justice Donegan described the weeks prior as "escalating threatening behaviour" from Myles.

Daniel Myles was 33 when Sanford stabbed him outside the Acadian Inn.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Dan Myers

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Myles, who was unarmed at the time, was stabbed in the back just outside the motel after a brief chase, and the pair both walked away from each other. Myles collapsed on a nearby doorstep and later died in hospital.

"Mr. Sanford's actions in responding to that threat were not reasonable in any way, shape or form," the judge said, adding that he should have called police.

Sanford initially denied stabbing Myles after his arrest that morning, but later conceded he was worried for his life when he stabbed Myles.

Myles was 34-years-old when he died. At least one family member submitted a statement to the court, but Justice Donegan did not read it aloud in court today.

"His family experienced trauma, not only by his untimely death but also the violent manner in which he died," she said, adding that he leaves behind young daughter who "will never know him."

"The circumstances around Myles' death will stain his legacy."

Manslaughter convictions can carry a sentence of up to a year in prison but there is no minimum, Justice Donegan said.

Crown sought a six to eight year sentence, while Sanford's attorney suggested a two-year sentence followed by three years of probation. Justice Donegan landed in between their submissions, handing down a four-year sentence.

Sanford was given credit for 321 days already served, leaving him with more than three years to spend behind bars.

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