Jamie Bacon’s murder trial postponed for another year
Adjournment due to several factors, says criminal justice branch
The trial for accused Surrey Six killer Jamie Bacon has been postponed for more than a year due to delays in the pre-trial process.
Bacon was supposed to go to trial Sept. 2 on one count of firstdegree murder and one of conspiracy to commit murder for his alleged role in the Oct. 19, 2007 slaughter in a Surrey highrise that left six dead, including two innocent bystanders.
Neil MacKenzie, spokesman for the criminal justice branch, confirmed Wednesday that the trial has now been adjourned until Oct. 31, 2016 — more than seven years after Bacon’s arrest.
“The adjournment occurred yesterday, and results from a number of factors,” MacKenzie said. “The adjournment is due in part to the length of time that is needed to deal with additional pre-trial applications that will be addressed before the trial begins, as well as to dealing with issues related to the disclosure by the Crown of some privileged material.”
A publication ban remains on pre-trial motions, which have been continuing for months in a high-security courtroom at the Vancouver Law Courts.
MacKenzie said jury selection for Bacon’s murder trial is set to go ahead Oct. 1, 2016. “The trial is expected to last from six to nine months,” he said.
So far, four members of the Red Scorpion gang have been convicted or pleaded guilty to a role in the murders of Corey Lal, his brother Michael, associates Ryan Bartolomeo and Eddie Narong, and bystanders Ed Schellenberg and Christopher Mohan.
Mohan’s mother Eileen was in B.C. Supreme Court Tuesday when Justice Kathleen Ker ordered the adjournment.
Mohan said that while the continued delays are frustrating, she understands the reasons behind them.
“I can never be resigned to the process,” she said. “These murders destroyed our entire family.”
She said she’s been told the extra time will allow the jury trial to proceed smoothly and without complications.
“I don’t want any wrinkles attached to the trial,” she said. “If this delay allows the defence and Crown to work everything out in pre-trial, so be it ... for me and for Christopher, we want ultimate justice.”
Surrey Six killers Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were sentenced to life in prison last December after being convicted on six counts of first-degree murder and one of conspiracy.
They are appealing their convictions and suing the B.C. government for the way they were treated in pre-trial custody.
Red Scorpion founder Michael Le pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiracy to commit murder for his role in the plot and was sentenced to 12 years minus time served. He testified against his former co-accused.
And a gangster who can only be identified as Person X due to a court order pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2009 and was sentenced to life with no parole for 15 years for three of the murders.