Second brother who killed 'outstanding' Siksika athlete handed 12-year sentence

One of the brothers who killed a young athlete from the Siksika First Nation has been handed a 12-year sentence for his crime.

With credit for time served plus a six-month reduction for harsh pandemic-related conditions at the Calgary Remand Centre, Brandon Giffen has about 6years left to serve.

In March 2019, Giffen fatally shot Kristian Ayoungman, a 24-year-old hockey player and champion powwow dancer from Siksika.

Ayoungman was a "young man of outstanding character who had the love and admiration of his whole community," saidCourt of Queen's Bench Justice Robert Hall.

Killed over a few missing cigarettes

The killing took place after two groups of friends argued in the parking lot of a Strathmore pub. Kody Giffen bought a pack of cigarettes from Ayoungman but there were a few missing.

Kody became enraged and the two groups of friends got into a fight. He eventually drove to a nearby apartment building to get his brother.

• Killing of Siksika man 'shameful and reckless' but judge says it's manslaughter not murder

Coincidentally, Ayoungman was dropping off a friend at the same building, and the two groupsencountered each other a second time. Another altercation took place.

By then, Brandon was armed with a hunting rifle.

Kodyhanded 4-year sentence

When confronted with the gun, Ayoungman and his friends fled in a pickup truck.

The brothers chased after the victims. Kodywas drivingand Brandon wasin the front passenger seat.

As the two groups drove south on Highway 817, Kodypulled over.

Brandon got out and fired at the truck, killing Ayoungman, who was in the back seat.

• 'You could have loved him, too,' says mother of Siksika man shot on rural road as killer gets 4-year sentence

In August 2020, Kody Giffen pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Giffen was originally charged with first-degree murder but convicted following a trial last year of manslaughter.

ProsecutorsRon Simenik and Lynda Levesque had proposed a 14-year sentence, while defence lawyerDerek Jugnauthargued for a seven-year prison term.