The long-delayed trial for three men accused of murdering an elderly couple in their Abbotsford, British Columbia home more than three years ago is now underway. The proceedings, which began on Monday, focus on the deaths of Arnold De Jong, 77, and his wife Joanne, 76, who were found dead in their semi-rural residence in May 2022.
A Violent Home Invasion
According to Crown prosecutors, the couple was victims of a brutal and depraved attack. Arnold De Jong was discovered with duct tape wrapped around his nose and mouth and died from asphyxiation. Joanne De Jong was found surrounded by blood, having succumbed to sharp and blunt force trauma. Both were bound in their beds. The alleged assailants are accused of fleeing the scene with a Visa card, cheques, and a pressure washer.
The three accused are Gurkaran Singh, 22, Khushveer Toor, 22, and Abhijeet Singh, 22. All have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Crown alleges the motive was "debt, financial pressure, and greed." Notably, Gurkaran Singh had been in Canada as an international student for less than a month at the time of the killings.
Connection and Aftermath
The court heard that the De Jongs, who owned a trucking business and were described as comfortable, came onto the radar of Abhijeet Singh, who had previously cleaned their roofs and gutters. His alleged confederates worked for him. Two days after the slayings, the men reportedly fled to Brampton, Ontario, before returning to British Columbia and sharing a basement apartment in Surrey.
The victims were last seen alive celebrating Mother's Day with their children and grandchildren. "She played hide-and-seek with the grandchildren, and he talked to his daughters and their husbands," the article notes. Their daughter, Sandra Barthel, spoke outside the packed courtroom, stating, "Our brains comprehend that our parents are gone, but our hearts have a really hard time understanding … how this could happen to such loving parents."
A Broader Commentary on Policy and Justice
The news report frames the tragedy within a broader critique of Canadian immigration and justice systems. It references Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2017 social media message welcoming those fleeing persecution, suggesting it opened floodgates. The columnist argues the case exemplifies a broken system that can allow individuals with violent intent to enter the country.
The article concludes with a pessimistic view of the judicial process ahead, predicting the judge will "bend over backwards" for the accused and that deportation, if convicted, would be fiercely contested. The trial, which has faced numerous delays since the arrests in late 2022, is expected to continue to reveal painful details for the De Jong family and community.
