Khill guilty of manslaughter, not guilty of second-degree murder in death of Jon Styres

Six Nations of the Grand River says it’s “disappointed” after Peter Khill was found guilty of manslaughter, but not guilty on the more serious charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Six Nations band member, Jonathan Styres, in February 2016.

Khill admitted that he fatally shot Styres, 29, as he was trying to steal his truck from his driveway at his property in rural Hamilton.

Khill said he was acting in self defence, believing Styres (pictured below) was armed with a gun. He wasn’t.

The verdict came down on Friday night.

“While Six Nations of the Grand River is glad that Jonathan’s killer is being held accountable for his death, we are disappointed that the clear evidence presented was not enough to convince the jury of second-degree murder,” Six Nations of the Grand River said in a release Friday following the verdict.

“Jonathan is not alive today because he was intentionally shot twice. Indigenous people deserve a judicial system that values our lives and one that is worthy of our trust. There is still plenty of work to be done to ensure an equitable and fair justice system that meaningfully addresses the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples within that system.”

Khill was first acquitted of second-degree murder in 2018. A second trial on appeal last year ended in a mistrial.

Jon Styres, 28, a father of two from Ohsweken, Ont., on the Six Nations reserve, was unarmed when he was shot and killed while breaking into the truck of Hamilton-area homeowner Peter Khill on Feb. 4, 2016. CHCH

Styres had two children with his partner, Lindsay Hill, who released the following statement:

“Finally, Jon’s killer has been held accountable. While I believe that it should have been second-degree murder, I am relieved that he was found guilty of unlawfully killing Jon. Although there is a conviction, it in no way compares to the loss my daughters and I have endured and will continue to endure.”