Former B.C. university guard sentenced 18 months for manslaughter

A former security guard for Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, B.C., has been sentenced to 18 months for manslaughter, after being convicted in the 2020 death of Howard Glen Hill.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray issued the sentence for Jack Cruthers Hutchison on May 17, three weeks after his conviction, which found a prolonged headlock he put Hill in contributed to the man's death.

In the fall of 2020, the court said, Hill wandered through student residences at the university and rifled through some students' rooms.

When he was confronted by Hutchison, a security guard on duty at the time, Hill hit Hutchison in the head, pulled his hair and spat on him. Hutchison put Hill in a headlock with his right arm around the back of Hill's head, the court heard.

When police arrived on campus Hill was unconscious. Paramedics were able to get a pulse, but Hill died in hospital two days later.

Justice Catherine Murray ruled April 26 that Hutchison's use of a headlock to restrain Hill for up to 13 minutes wasn't always reasonable or proportionate to the circumstances.

In her sentencing judgment, Murray expressed how difficult it was to rule in the case, having to balance the loss of a life, details of Hill's mental illness outlined in court proceedings and Hutchison's testimony that he was fearful, just trying to do his job and did not intend to contribute to Hill's death.

"It is truly a tragedy all around. Two families have suffered immeasurably," she wrote.

Hutchison, who is First Nations and does not have a criminal record, will serve his 18-month sentence in the community, which includes remaining at his residence between midnight and 6 a.m.

He is also prohibited from using drugs or alcohol and must perform 120 hours of community service.

"I recommend that at least part of the work service involves educating others — security guards, bouncers, police, those involved in martial arts — of the dangers of neck restraints," wrote Murray.

The Crown had sought a sentence of five years incarceration while the defence wanted either a conditional sentence order or a suspended sentence.

Murray wrote that she found Hutchison "acted in the heat of the moment," was motivated to protect himself and others, is not a violent person, does not pose a danger to others and is a valued member of his community.

"The reality is that there is no punishment that I could impose that will be harder on Mr. Hutchison than living with Mr. Hill's death," wrote Murray. "For a person of Mr. Hutchison's character, that is a heavy burden."

Hutchison started working as a security guard at TWU in 2016, according to court documents. Before working as a security guard, he practised martial arts, including Muay Thai, krav maga and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

TWU said at the time of his conviction that Hutchison is no longer employed at the school.