VANCOUVER — Two Kelowna, B.C., men convicted of manslaughter in the beating death of a 51-year-old man have lost appeals in the province's highest court.
Matthew McRae and Anson Schell were sentenced to three-and-a-half years and three-years respectively for their part in the slaying of Dain Phillips during a feud in Kelowna in June, 2011.
The two appealed, arguing they did not play a part because the fatal blows were delivered by others.
In a unanimous ruling, the B.C. Court of Appeal rejected the claim, finding McRae and Schell knew a fight was brewing with Phillips and his sons, and were aware of a plan to harm them during a pre-arranged meeting set up by McRae's younger brother.
Daniel McRae, who was 19 at the time, was sentenced to just under five years and did not appeal his October 2014 conviction.
Two other men, both with connection to the Hells Angels, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to 15 years in prison in early 2014, while a sixth man was acquitted.
