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Trucking scion Erick Buhr is now on the road to Nowheresville.
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Buhr, 41, was convicted of second-degree murder in the brutal beating death of his grandmother, road queen Viola Erb, 88.
CTV News reported that the Kitchener-Waterloo jury took less than two hours to reach their verdict.
Viola Erb — who, with her late husband Vernon founded the Erb Transport empire — was discovered bleeding on the kitchen floor of her home outside Baden on Sept. 24, 2022. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time of the slaying, Buhr was living in his grandmother’s home. Reports said that he had struggled with drug addiction over the years.
Five days after the homicide, Buhr was charged with second-degree murder.
In his instructions to the jury, Justice Gerry Taylor said that because of the severe degree of Erb’s injuries, it should be concluded that whoever did it wanted her dead or to inflict grievous bodily harm. That person would know those injuries would kill her, he said.
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Acting as his own lawyer, Buhr testified in his own defence.
He claimed at the time of the slaying he was nestled in a forested area behind the home where he was engaged in a cocaine-smoking session. Buhr said he found his grandmother bleeding on the floor.
Cops told a different tale with the Crown arguing that GPS evidence from Buhr’s ankle bracelet conflicted with his timeline. Data revealed he was in the crime scene area 20 minutes before dialling 911. He called the data inaccurate.
Investigators later discovered Erb’s blood on her grandson’s clothing stashed in his bedroom.
Buhr admitted he lied to cops about changing his clothing.
He commenced repping himself after the departure of his lawyer, Bruce Ritter. Why Ritter departed is unknown.
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A second-degree murder conviction carries with it a life sentence. The judge asked the jury for their recommendations for Buhr’s parole ineligibility, four said 20 years, one said 22 years, and the remaining five said 25 years. Two did not make recommendations.
He gave the jury a range of 10 to 25 years. Justice Taylor will make the final decision.
The jurors were told to consider the nature of the crime, the circumstances and Buhr’s character.
Jurors were told to consider Buhr’s character, the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding it.
Buhr will be sentenced on Nov. 29.
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