Robert Matthews wanted to be “a boss” — a “father figure” — and was committed to “doing something big” the night he brought a rifle with him on a planned crime spree around Calgary, the prosecution said in closing arguments at the killer’s second-degree murder trial.

The defence has conceded that in the early morning hours of Sept. 9, 2023, Matthews, 27, fatally shot Jordan Jacques-Vetten, 33.

But defence lawyer Rebecca Snukal will argue Matthews is guilty of manslaughter, not murder.

Matthews’ trial took place late last year. 

Closing arguments are now underway before Court of King’s Bench Justice Lisa Silver.

A second killer, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was also charged with murder but was convicted of manslaughter and has yet to be sentenced. He can only be identified as CD because of a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

‘Under my wing’

On the night he was fatally shot, Jacques-Vetten — who was experiencing homelessness and had recently secured a job as a line cook at a downtown restaurant — got off shift around 2:30 a.m. 

The victim made his way to the northwest community of Capitol Hill.

Earlier in the evening, Matthews texted a series of messages to CD.

“Going under my wing [is] going to be the best move you’ve ever made on these streets,” Matthews told CD. “You’ll know it as the luckiest night of your life.”

‘Securing his role as a boss’

Matthews then referred to himself as a “father figure.”

“He was going to commit a crime of some magnitude; it was going to be a big deal,” said  prosecutor Carla MacPhail in her closing arguments. 

According to MacPhail, Matthews and CD planned to rob ATMs and headed out with a gun.

“Success in relation to that evening meant a couple of things to Mr. Matthews,” said MacPhail. “Securing his role as a boss … as a leader.”

‘More and more angry’

But MacPhail told Silver that the two wannabe thieves experienced “a series of failures” in trying to rob the ATMs, and Matthews was pissed.

“He was getting more and more frustrated, more and more angry, feeling more and more that he needed to succeed at something,” said MacPhail.

Just before 4 a.m., Matthews and CD came across Jacques-Vetten, who was carrying a backpack. 

Evidence presented during the trial suggests Jacques-Vetten was shot because he refused to give up his backpack to Matthews and CD.

Silver will set a date for her decision after the defence delivers its closing arguments.