A Langley man will spend at least 25 years behind bars for two murders, after a jury failed to believe his claims of innocence.

Robert Bradshaw was found guilty Friday of first degree murder in the deaths of Laura Lynn Lamoureux and Mark Bontkes.

Both victims were shot to death in March, 2009, one of the most violent periods in decades for Langley. Lamoureux was shot on a residential street in Langley City, while Bontkes was killed a few days later in Hi-Knoll Park, on the Langley-Surrey border.

Because he was convicted of first degree murder, Bradshaw will receive an automatic sentence of 25 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. He will be under the control of the judicial system for the rest of his life.

Bradshaw, 28, killed 36-year-old Lamoureux and 33-year-old Bontkes. The Crown said both murders were committed because Bradshaw believed the victims had been ripping off drug dealing operations.

Lamoureux was shot by Roy Thielen, who had separately pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder for his part in the crimes. According to a video confession Thielen made to the RCMP, Bradshaw pulled the trigger in the murder of Bontkes.

Also involved in the murder of Bontkes was Michele Motola, 17 at the time, who was sentenced to six years in prison as an adult after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Both the victims were enmeshed in the local drug culture, but both had lives outside of that world.

A Langley builder, Bontkes operated Designmarc Homes and had been putting up houses in the Willoughby area recently.

Bontkes was one of six siblings, the son of Robert Bontkes of the Benchmark Group of Properties. A local boy, he was a noted athlete at Credo Christian in his teens.

Lamoureux was raised in Ontario, an athlete and equestrian who had planned to become a vet. After being sexually abused as a young woman, her life went off track, according to her family.

Lamoureux moved to B.C., and her family was unaware of her involvement in drugs and crime until after her murder.

Bradshaw testified in his own defense at the trial, claiming to have not even known Bontkes and to have only known Lamoureux as a customer, saying he had no issues with her.

- with files from the Vancouver Province