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November 27, 2014 - 1:19 PM
KELOWNA – A Hells Angels associate found guilty of being involved in the beating death of a Kelowna man in 2011 has been released on bail.
Matthew McRae was 19 years old when he and his older brother Daniel carried on a feud with Kody Philips. It escalated until Philips' father Dain tried to resolve the dispute but instead the 51-year-old was beaten to death in June 2011.
The dispute between Philips' son Kody and some high school acquaintances escalated to involve several full patch members of the Hells Angels.
Norm Cocks and Robert Thomas pleaded guilty earlier this year and were eachn sentenced to 15 years in prison. Daniel and Matthew McRae, as well as their friend Anson Schell, were also convicted of manslaughter while Robert Cocks was acquitted.
Daniel was sentenced to five years in prison while Matthew received a sentence of 42 months. Both brothers appealed the convictions and applied to be released on bail.
They have since been granted leave to appeal and according to the Vancouver Province, B.C. Court of Appeal Justice Kathryn Neilson acknowledged the savage nature of the attack but said of all the men involved, Matthew McRae was the least involved. He was released on $200,000 bail while he awaits his appeal but put on house arrest and ordered not to have any contact with the family of the victim or members of the Hells Angels.
Daniel McRae’s application was denied and he remains in custody.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014