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BANFF – A man convicted of murdering a lifelong Banff resident will have his sentencing hearing in April to determine how long he will be in jail.
John Arrizza will appear at Calgary Court of King’s Bench on April 14 and 15, 2025 to be sentenced for the second-degree murder of Ethan Enns-Goneau on Aug. 5, 2022.
Arrizza was convicted by a 12-person Calgary jury in September for fatally stabbing Enns-Goneau at Banff nightclub Dancing Sasquatch. During the trial, the jury heard Arrizza stabbed Enns-Goneau at least 11 times inside and outside the nightclub’s men’s washroom.
Enns-Goneau and his friend, Bobby Lavery, arrived at Dancing Sasquatch at about 1:30 a.m. that night. The two were co-workers at Melissa’s MisSteak, a popular restaurant and bar in Banff, and he gave emotional testimony after describing helping administer first-aid to Enns-Goneau.
“I looked at Ethan on the ground and I said, ‘I love you, man, you’re gonna get through this.’ That was the last thing I said to him,” he said in his testimony.
The jury took less than 24 hours to find Arrizza guilty of killing Enns-Goneau.
During the trial, Arrizza’s defence lawyer Katherin Beyak didn’t debate that Arrizza stabbed Enns-Goneau, but that Arrizza was too intoxicated on alcohol and drugs to have intent for second-degree murder. She argued for a manslaughter conviction. Arrizza was found to have four to five times the legal blood alcohol content allowable to drive and traces of cocaine in his system.
“I am not suggesting that Mr. Arrizza should be excused for what happened or that Mr. Enns-Goneau is in any way responsible himself for what happened,” said Beyak during closing arguments at the trial.
“But at the end of the day, I’d like you, ladies and gentlemen, to ask yourselves given the evidence that you’ve heard of cutting, sleep deprivation, a lack of food, inferential evidence of consumption of intoxicants, your chance to observe video [of Arrizza’s behaviour], and what I would suggest appears to be an extreme state of intoxication on the part of Mr. Arrizza, are you able to say beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended the death of Mr. Enns-Goneau?”
The jury was shown video of Arrizza – who had recently come to Banff from Thornton, Ontario – when he was in police custody in an RCMP vehicle asking if Enns-Goneau was still alive.
When Cpl. Sheldon Silveira told Arrizza that Enns-Goneau was “not doing well,” Arrizza said, “I feel bad, but not really.”
Arrizza’s roommate Zachary Laivovitz also testified he and his housemates found a bloody pentagram drawn on a wall in their home shortly before Enns-Goneau’s murder.
Though only 26, Enns-Goneau had a lasting impact on the small mountain community inside Banff National Park. When the verdict was delivered, roughly 20 members of Enns-Goneau’s family were in court. There were also more than two dozen people who tuned in virtually, with many more attending the seven-day trial.
“It won’t bring my boy back, but it’s something,” said Gloria Enns, Enns-Goneau’s mother told the Outlook on Sept. 20.
“He was the sweetest, kindest person ever. He wasn’t perfect, but he was so awesome. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
Arrizza remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Resources are available for anyone needing urgent mental health support at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital on a walk-in basis from 2-9 p.m. daily. For a safe space to be heard, any time of day, call or text the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 9-8-8. For general mental health supports, call or text 2-1-1.
– With files from Jessica Lee, Rocky Mountain Outlook
