Former CFL receiver Josh Boden has been convicted of second-degree murder in the killing of ex-girlfriend Kimberly Hallgarth.
Hallgarth was found dead in her residence in Burnaby, B.C. in March 2009. Boden was reportedly not considered a suspect early in the investigation, though he was charged with the crime in November 2018.
Karen Boden, Josh’s mother, told The Province in 2009 that her son’s violent tendencies were the result of steroid use, concussions, and early exposure to drugs and alcohol. She also indicated that Boden blamed Hallgarth for “ruining” his career in the CFL.
Boden was charged with assault, theft, and mischief in April 2008 when Hallgarth contacted the B.C. Lions to allege that he had injured her and damaged her vehicle. He was released by the team, though the charges were later dropped.
The Vancouver native was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in September 2008, though his stint with the team was brief. He did not sign another CFL contract following his release from the club.
Boden’s legal problems persisted over the coming years as he was charged with a number of crimes, including two counts of sexual assault in 2011 for which he was sentenced to one year in prison.
Second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in Canada with parole eligibility falling between 10 to 25 years of imprisonment.
