Judge declines additional security at kidnapping trial
Crown asks for ID checks after shots were fired at home of witness’ parents
A judge on Thursday declined to order extra security measures at the trial of six men accused of kidnapping and involvement in two fatal shootings, after the home of the kidnap victim’s parents was shot at early Wednesday.
On Wednesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Arne Silverman was advised of the shooting incident linked to the key Crown witness, who had begun his testimony at the Vancouver trial on Monday.
The Crown requested that sheriffs outside the courtroom conduct a mandatory check of the identification of persons wishing to enter the premises. Normally, members of the public are allowed to attend proceedings without having to identify themselves.
The witness, who cannot be identified due to an interim publication ban, told the court he was OK to continue with his testimony, but the judge adjourned the proceedings for the day to consider the Crown’s request.
“I’m conscious of the need to balance varying concerns,” the judge said at the outset of the proceedings Thursday. “One is courtroom security, the other is the public access to the courtrooms, which is necessary for us to maintain.”
The judge said he discussed the issue with Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes and several senior sheriffs and asked the sheriffs if they felt the identification requirement would improve security.
He said he was told by the sheriffs that any improvement to security would be minimal and they were confident with the measures already in place.
“I am satisfied that it’s not necessary to apply mandatory requests of identification by the sheriffs. I am not ordering that that be done.”
Security was heavy at the trial Thursday, with six sheriffs inside the courtroom and three outside. A security gate to screen for weapons, which was set up at the outset of the trial, remained in place.
The witness whose parents’ home was shot at continued his testimony Thursday with dramatic details about the abduction, which has been linked to the two slayings.
He has told the trial that he was taken from his home and driven to a home in Surrey, where he was beaten and tortured, with his captors using a blowtorch on him.
The witness claimed that, during his captivity, his kidnappers demanded up to $1 million in ransom.
The motive for the kidnapping was not clear.
Harinam Cox, Shamil Ali, Gopal Figueredo, Erlan Acosta, Ellwood Bradbury and Matthew Stewart have pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping, unlawful confinement and aggravated assault.
They have also pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in the September 2016 deaths of Xuan Van Vy Ba-Cao and Samantha Le.
The trial continues Friday.