Verdict expected in Abbotsford double homicide trial involving 2022 home invasion

A B.C. Supreme Court judge is expected to deliver a verdict today in the first-degree murder trial of three men charged in the deaths of an elderly Abbotsford couple during a 2022 home invasion.

Court heard during the judge-alone trial that 77-year-old Arnold De Jong died from asphyxiation after his head and face were wrapped in duct tape, while 76-year-old Joanne De Jong was beaten and had her throat slashed. The couple’s bodies were discovered inside their Abbotsford home in May 2022.

Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Toor, all in their 20s, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges earlier this year. Prosecutors alleged the accused had previously done cleaning work at the home before returning during the fatal robbery.

According to evidence presented in court, the accused allegedly stole cheques, credit cards and a power washer after the killings. The Crown also pointed to internet searches conducted by one of the accused, including searches related to murder penalties in Canada and news coverage of the case.

Defence lawyers argued the evidence did not establish planning or deliberation required for first-degree murder. They told the court the incident was a “botched robbery” and argued manslaughter would be the highest possible conviction supported by the evidence.

The case has drawn significant attention in Abbotsford and across British Columbia because of the severity of the allegations and the deaths of two seniors inside their home. The judge’s ruling is expected to determine whether the Crown proved the killings were planned and intentional under Canadian homicide law.