Fatal stabbing outside Banff nightclub results in conditional sentence

Family and friends of a man fatally stabbed outside a Banff nightclub three years ago are furious his killer has received a conditional sentence.

Warning: This story may be upsetting to some readers.

The B.C. man who stabbed Ryden Brogden to death in Banff three years ago will serve his sentence in the community, under house arrest.

John Sproule, 23, from Lake Country, B.C., was initially charged with second-degree murder in the death of the 27-year-old from Priddis, Alta., but a jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in March.

On Wednesday, Sproule was given a two-year sentence to be served in the community, followed by two years of probation.

Conditions of his sentence include abiding by a curfew, completing 240 hours of community service and checking in with a supervisor.

“This was a senseless and tragic death,” said Justice Johanna Price in her sentencing decision on Wednesday.

“Ryden was a good man whose life mattered. His death is a tragedy; however, sending John to jail for any further time will not bring Ryden back.”

In September 2022, Sproule was visiting Banff with family and went to a bar with his brother.

He asked Brogden, who was in Banff en route to a fishing trip to B.C., for a cigarette outside the former Dancing Sasquatch nightclub.

Court heard a verbal argument quickly turned into a physical fight.

Sproule admitted to stabbing Brogden with his work knife but argued he was acting in self-defence following an unprovoked attack.

Brogden had 19 stab and slash wounds to his body, including to his chest, neck and groin, which were considered fatal.

Court heard the fight lasted a minute until a bouncer intervened.

Sproule then fled the scene, and he argued he didn’t know he’d killed Brogden and feared he would follow him.

The Crown argued Sproule brought a knife to a fistfight and sought a sentence between five and six years.

The defence asked for a conditional sentence and no more than 18 months in jail.

In her decision, Price said she considered evidence that Brogden started the fight by throwing the first punch and had the upper hand because he was bigger and older.

“This was self-defence that simply went too far, and the video and other evidence that we had at trial all demonstrated this was all self-defence, but the use of force was just too much,” said Sproule’s lawyer, Cory Wilson.

“It was a fair and just sentence, and as Justice Price said repeatedly, there is really no sentence that can bring the victim back. This was an incredibly tragic case; there’s no winners here.”

‘Extremely shocked and very disappointed’

Brogden’s family and friends filled the courtroom Wednesday and became emotional while the sentence decision was read out.

“Our justice system is a joke,” said family friend Cami Elias.

Several people walked out muttering their disappointment.

“We are all extremely shocked and very disappointed. It is definitely a justice system that caters to the suspect and not a thought to the victim or victim’s family,” said Elias.

“He stabbed him 19 times.”

Brogden is described as a “loving, happy person” who loved all animals, especially his dogs.

He was passionate about music, photography and was an avid outdoorsman.

Sproule will serve his conditional sentence in Kelowna, B.C.

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