Photo: Castanet Staff

Police parked outside the Acadian Inn on Columbia Street on Sept. 12, 2020, the day Daniel Myles was fatally stabbed nearby.

A Kamloops man charged with second-degree murder following a fatal stabbing outside a downtown motel was found guilty Thursday of the lesser included offence of manslaughter.

James Sanford’s B.C. Supreme Court jury returned with a verdict at about 4 p.m. on Thursday, following a little more than two days of deliberations.

Sanford, 33, was charged after he stabbed 34-year-old Daniel Thomas Myles once in the back outside the Acadian Inn on Sept. 12, 2020. Myles died from his injuries.

During a two-week trial, jurors heard Sanford and Myles were involved in a protracted conflict dating back more than three months before the stabbing. Myles had threatened to kill Sanford more than once. He also smashed one of the windows at Sanford’s suite in the Acadian Inn and sprayed bear spray inside.

Court heard Sanford believed Myles smashed his window again a few hours before the stabbing. He also believed Myles doused his patio with gasoline.

Sanford told police he was scared Sanford would set fire to his suite.

Defence lawyer Jay Michi urged jurors to acquit Sanford, telling them he was acting in self-defence.

Crown prosecutor Alison Buchanan, meanwhile, said Sanford armed himself and went out looking for Myles — showing he was acting with intent.

Lawyers will return to court on Feb. 6 to set a date for sentencing.

Sanford remains free on bail.