Three plead guilty after killing of Langley teen
Posted January 23, 2017 12:43 pm.
Last Updated January 23, 2017 7:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) – Three men charged with first-degree murder in the death of a man from Langley once considered a friend have pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Each of them has been given a life sentence without the chance of parole for 18 years.
Nineteen-year-old Nicholas Hannon’s body was found in August 2015 in the woods in Mission 18 months after he disappeared.
Bradley Flaherty, Keith Tankard, and Connor Campbell were charged shortly after.
All three were also 19-years-old when the crime was committed. Campbell is the son of former RCMP spokesperson Catherine Galliford.
Dan McLaughlin with the Crown says the crime was preplanned.
“The victim was lured to the residence of one of the accused where he was killed and then transported to a remote area where they had prepared in advance a shallow grave.”
McLaughlin says there were a number of factors contributing to the motive.
“All three expressed remorse throughout the sentencing process. The offence, we learned, was caused by a number of factors including immaturity, fear of Mr. Hannon, anger towards Mr. Hannon, drug use, they were involved, all of them in the recreational use of drugs.”
The trio convicted knew Hannon. Hannon’s family has said the three men had been in their home during the 18 months between when Hannon disappeared and when his remains were found.
IHIT Sergeant Jennifer Pound says the process has been difficult for all involved.
“There is no way to describe how the act of homicide changes the lives of those involved and, while the family of Nicholas are thankful for today’s sentence, they recognize that it won’t bring him back.”
