Three individuals have been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2022 slaying of a couple in Abbotsford. Arnold and Joanne De Jong were discovered deceased in their residence on Arcadian Way in Abbotsford on May 9, 2022. Following nearly four years, Justice Brenda Brown of the B.C. Supreme Court declared that Gurkaran Singh, Abhijeet Singh, and Khushveer Toor were all active participants in the couple’s murder.
Brown stated that each accused willingly and knowingly took part in the murders, concurring with the Crown’s assertion that the killings were driven by financial motives. Throughout the trial, it was revealed that the trio collaborated to plan a robbery and murder, stealing items including credit cards, cheques, and a power washer from the victims’ home. The three were employed at a cleaning company owned by Abhijeet Singh, which had previously serviced the De Jongs’ residence.
The courtroom was filled with family and friends, along with attendees in overflow rooms, as Justice Brown delivered the verdict. At the trial’s commencement, the three men, all in their twenties, pleaded not guilty to two charges of first-degree murder each. The De Jongs were found deceased in separate rooms, with Arnold having his head and face wrapped in duct tape, and Joanne with blood present around her.
Circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the murders was uncovered by investigators, supporting the Crown’s argument for severe charges. Crown prosecutor William Dorsey claimed that the men collaborated to plan the murders and steal the victims’ money. Defense attorneys, on the other hand, contended that the killings were not premeditated, suggesting that it was a botched robbery. Justice Brown dismissed this defense argument.
The prosecution maintained that all three men were equally culpable for the murders, emphasizing their collaborative involvement. The accused hastily fled British Columbia post the killings, with incriminating internet searches conducted by Abhijeet Singh. DNA evidence from the suspects was discovered at various locations related to the crime.
One of the De Jongs’ daughters, Sandra Barthel, expressed her emotions upon hearing the verdict, describing it as overwhelming. The family spent time together the day before the tragic incident, reminiscing about the special qualities of the deceased couple they miss dearly. Sentencing for the three individuals is set for May 28.