A British Columbia Supreme Court justice has imposed a period of 11 years without eligibility for parole after finding a Victoria man guilty of second-degree murder for the hatchet killing of his elderly housemate in 2023.
Brutal attack in Cook Street Village
The court heard that Michael King, 45, attacked 70-year-old Michael Jones in the early hours of March 6, 2023, inflicting five wounds to the head. Jones was removed from life support and died nine days later. King was convicted in May of second-degree murder and faced a sentencing hearing last week at the B.C. Supreme Court in Victoria.
Justice Veronica Jackson described the killing as a "brutal attack" and said she was troubled by King’s violent response to a situation that made him angry. Jackson noted that Jones was a defenceless and vulnerable older man with significant health and mobility limitations.
“I don’t understand still how that could be, and what you’ve gone through is not right,”
The remark above was spoken by King in court as he apologised directly to Jones’s sisters, who were in attendance. He also told them he accepted responsibility and offered what he called a "true apology for what’s happened." Those comments appeared alongside the Crown’s assertion that animosity had been building in the week before the fatal attack.
Arguments to the judge and sentence imposed
Crown prosecutor Kate Dutton urged the court to impose 15 years of parole ineligibility, arguing the circumstances placed the offence at the high end of moral culpability. Defence counsel Jim Heller asked the judge to impose the statutory minimum of 10 years.
Second-degree murder in Canada carries an automatic life sentence with the minimum period before a person can apply for parole set by law. The judge’s decision for 11 years without eligibility reflects her view of the particular facts of this killing and uncertainty about the offender’s prospects for rehabilitation.
- Victim: Michael Jones, 70, housemate in Cook Street Village
- Accused: Michael King, 45, found guilty of second-degree murder
- Attack: March 6, 2023 — five head wounds from a hatchet; death nine days later
- Sentence: Life imprisonment with 11 years before parole eligibility
Courtroom detail and aftermath
According to the Crown, after the attack King returned to his room, cleaned the weapon and left the house. The sentencing judge said she remained concerned by both the degree of violence and the fact the victim was an older, vulnerable man who relied on others for care.
The case has drawn attention in Victoria not only for its severity but for the setting — neighbours in the Cook Street Village area share housing and services, and the death of a resident in such circumstances raises questions about supports for vulnerable adults living in shared accommodations.
| Key date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 6, 2023 | Attack on Michael Jones |
| Nine days later | Jones removed from life support and died |
| May | King found guilty of second-degree murder |
| Sentencing hearing (August) | Justice imposes 11 years parole ineligibility |
Justice Jackson said she was "very concerned" about the level of violence and what it signalled about the offender’s reaction to anger. Crown counsel argued that the build-up of animosity between the two men in the days before the attack warranted a longer period of parole ineligibility, while defence counsel highlighted mitigating factors and urged the minimum period.
The sentence now sets the timeline for when the offender may first apply for parole; it does not guarantee release. Parole eligibility triggers a review process that considers rehabilitation, risk and public safety before any decision is made by the Parole Board of Canada.
For many in Victoria, the case underscores tensions between community housing models and the need to protect vulnerable residents. Neighbours and service providers often point to the importance of early intervention, supports for mental health and conflict resolution in shared living environments to prevent isolated disputes from escalating into violence.
The family of the victim attended the sentencing hearing. The court file remains a matter of public record in provincial court.
