Denecho King sentenced to life without parole for 12 years for 2014 murder, assault

Denecho King was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 12 yearsin N.W.T. Supreme Court today, after he was found guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated assault in July.

King, 25, was convicted of killing John Wifladt and seriously injuring Colin Digness in a deadly sword attack in Digness's apartment on Dec. 14, 2014. He was also sentenced to 10 years for his attack on Digness, which will be served concurrently with his life sentence.

Justice Andrew Mahar delivered his verdict Monday afternoon in Yellowknife.

There were no eyewitnesses to the attack in 2014. Wifladt and Digness, along with Digness's decorative swords, were found on the floor of Digness's apartment surrounded by blood.

Investigators found King's DNA on the handles of the swords used in the attack, but they didn't find any of his fingerprints or blood on them.

During closing arguments, Jay Bran, King's lawyer, reiterated the defence's theory that the two friends attacked one another with the swords in a Star Wars-esque battle.

• Prosecutor attempts to piece together post-attack timeline at Denecho King trial

Dignesshad testified that he blacked out from alcohol consumption hours before the attack and has no memory of it. He said he andWifladthad, in the past, used the swords to recreate a StarWarslightsaberfight.

There was also video footage of King at the NorthernLitesMotel just after 5 a.m. onDec. 14, 2014. In the video King made swinging motions, which the Crown said they believe was a re-enactment of what happened toWifladtandDignessthe day they were attacked.

Earlier during his sentencing hearing, King asked the judge for the minimum 10 years before parole eligibility. King said he just wanted to get through the sentencing so he can get help in a southern penitentiary.