Regina man who killed someone in dispute over $20 could see less prison time
A man who shot and killed someone following a dispute over $20 may be spending less time behind bars.
Following a 2020 jury trial, Chad Barre was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Justin Langan — a crime that comes with an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
In a ruling issued last week, the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan downgraded the conviction to second-degree murder due to concerns about the instructions the jury received.
Langan was fatally shot in his Regina home on Feb. 18, 2018 after Barre and another man arrived brandishing a shotgun and demanding $20 allegedly owed for a methamphetamine purchase.
During Barre's trial, Langan's wife said she tried to stop the men from taking the couple's television in lieu of the debt.
After a "tug of war" over the TV, she said she ended up on the floor and Langan came towards her to help when he was shot.
Barre and the other man left the home with the television in tow and drove away in a truck.
The Court of Appeal's decision largely hinged on whether the jury had enough information to decide if Langan was unlawfully confined during the encounter, an act that would elevate the conviction to first-degree murder.
According to the decision, the Crown argued confinement does not necessarily mean "absolute physical control" and can instead take the form of fear and intimidation.
The Court of Appeal felt the testimony of Langan's wife was not enough to establish that the alleged confinement occurred and that — if it did — it was sufficiently linked to Langan's killing to warrant a first-degree murder conviction.
"The trial judge acknowledged the issues on the evidence and the applicable law but unfortunately failed to adequately equip the jury to address this central issue," the decision said.
While Barre's downgraded conviction of second-degree murder still comes with a life sentence, he could be eligible for parole in as few as ten years based on the outcome of sentencing submissions the Crown and defence are expected to make to the Court of Appeal.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6973608.1721691615!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Toronto woman charged with voyeurism after taking 'intimate' photos during massage: police
A Toronto woman who allegedly took 'intimate' photos of an individual who was getting a massage has been charged with voyeurism, police say.
Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed
If you're trying to get up to speed on Vice President Kamala Harris' swift emergence as Democrats' possible nominee this fall, you really need to know your memes.
These are the four leading vice-presidential picks for Kamala Harris' campaign
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris endorsement excites Democrats, but what could it mean for Canada?
U.S. President Joe Biden's endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris as his possible replacement stirred excitement among Democrats, but one analyst has concerns about what a potential Harris presidency would mean for Canada.