Convicted Wolfpack Hitman Faces New Charges After Alleged Jail Break Attempt
Convicted Wolfpack gang hitman Dean Michael Wiwchar has been charged with attempting to break out of Surrey pretrial jail last month, a development that starkly contrasts with his recent courtroom pledges to turn his life around. This incident occurred just days after Wiwchar expressed remorse during his sentencing hearing, claiming there was good in him and committing to change.
Details of the Alleged Escape Attempt
According to Surrey Police Service Sgt. Tige Pollock, Wiwchar, 40, and Harry Christensen, 34, have each been charged with one count of attempt to break out of prison with intent to escape and one count of attempt to escape from lawful custody. The charges were approved by the B.C. Prosecution Services on Tuesday.
On December 7, at approximately 12:25 p.m., correctional officers observed an attempted escape in progress from an exercise yard within the secure perimeter of the Surrey jail location. Both men remain in custody serving their original custodial sentences pending further court appearances.
Wiwchar's Criminal History and Recent Sentencing
Wiwchar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder rival gangster Sandip Duhre at the Sheraton Wall Centre in January 2012. On December 5, Justice Kathleen Ker sentenced Wiwchar to 20 years after he pleaded guilty to involvement in both Duhre and Dhak murder conspiracies. He also admitted to walking into the Sheraton Wall Centre lobby on January 17, 2012, and shooting Duhre 10 times, though a first-degree murder charge he faced was dropped.
This is not Wiwchar's first escape attempt. He also tried to break out from Surrey pretrial in July 2022, just days after his co-accused Rabih Alkhalil escaped from North Fraser pretrial while in the middle of his high-profile murder trial. Wiwchar pleaded guilty in August 2024 and was sentenced to two years for that earlier escape attempt.
Courtroom Remorse and Judicial Response
During his sentencing hearing, Wiwchar expressed remorse and stated that there was some good in him, emphasizing his commitment to changing his life. Justice Ker accepted that his remorse and desire to lead a pro-social life were genuine, challenging him to prove his sincerity to those who doubted him.
Ker told Wiwchar, "to prove to everyone here who does not think you are being genuine that in fact you are genuine and committed to changing your life."
Additional Criminal Connections
Both Wiwchar and Alkhalil were also convicted of first-degree murder in the June 2012 slaying of John Raposo in Toronto. Alkhalil was convicted in absentia a month later of both first-degree murder and conspiracy to kill Duhre and gangster Sukhveer Dhak. He was arrested last fall in Qatar and is expected to be extradited to Canada.
Christensen, an Alberta man, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to second-degree murder for the 2018 slaying of Kyle Cromarty in Chilliwack. He was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for more than 13 years.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in the Canadian justice system regarding gang-related crimes and prison security, particularly in British Columbia. The juxtaposition of Wiwchar's courtroom promises with his alleged escape attempt raises questions about rehabilitation efforts for high-profile offenders.
