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IHIT charges Langley man for March murder of 29-year-old

Crown lays second-degree murder charges against a 40-year-old in the Nicholas Ball murder
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Soon after his body was discovered, family and friends identified Nicholas Ball, 29, as the man murdered in Langley in March 2022. (Facebook)

A 40-year-old Langley man has been charged with second degree murder in the killing of a man found dead at a Willoughby property in March.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has made an arrest in the homicide of Nicholas Ball who was killed March 29 with charges being laid in consultation with the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS).

At 12:10 p.m. on that day, the Langley RCMP were called to a wooded area in the 7400-block of 208th Street.

“Langley RCMP front line officers attended and located a 29-year-old deceased man, later identified as Nicholas Ball, of Langley,” said IHIT’s Sgt. Timothy Pierotti.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) took conduct of the investigation. Police said at the time they believed he was killed at that location. While the victim was known to police, he was not believed to be active in the ongoing gang conflict.

“During the course of the investigation, police identified a suspect who was believed to be responsible for Mr. Ball’s death,” he said.

On Aug. 23, 40-year old Jason Griffiths of Langley was arrested in connection to the murder.

“In consultation with the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS), charges of second degree murder where laid against Mr. Griffiths,” Pierotti said.

No further information is available as this case is now before the courts, he added.

• READ MORE: Body found in wooded area that of 29-year-old man

Court records show a Jason Robert William Griffiths of the same age as the accused was to appear in court on Aug 24 for a judicial interim release hearing.

• READ MORE: Family identifies murder victim

Court records show that a Nicholas Ryan Ball, the same age as the victim, has faced several criminal charges since 2017.

He was found guilty of assault in 2017, and was more recently charged with kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and aggravated assault. The case was scheduled to be resume with a pre-trial conference April 7 before a judge in New Westminster Supreme Court, but that appearance was later removed from the court schedule.

According to the records, the alleged kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and assault took place on or around Aug. 29, 2017, with the first offence taking place in Langley, and the assault and confinement in Dawson Creek.

Staff Sgt. Damon Werrell, commander of the Dawson Creek RCMP detachment, said Ball was arrested on the charges in the Lower Mainland in February, 2021. He was then released from custody pending a court appearance.

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Heather Colpitts

About the Author: Heather Colpitts

Since starting in the news industry in 1992, my passion for sharing stories has taken me around Western Canada.
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