A Burns Lake man has been sentenced to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 22 years for three counts of second-degree murder.
Reuben Buhler, 56, was issued the term Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court in Smithers for the April 2015 deaths of Ridge Vern Vienneau, Ehr Ola Andersen and Mitchel Wade Ruttan in Burns Lake, a community of about 2,000 people 226 kilometres west of Prince George.
Buhler had pleaded guilty to the counts in May last year.
Second-degree murder differs from first degree in that the killings were carried out on impulse rather than being planned. The deaths were related to a domestic dispute, police said at the time of Buhler's arrest.
Consecutive sentences apply only in instances of first-degree murder.
Although he can apply for parole after 22 years, whether Buhler is ever released will be up to a Parole Board of Canada panel and he would have to serve a stint on day parole before progressing to full parole.
