Two youths get bail in stabbing case
LONG WEEKEND TRAGEDY: Family, friends of Luka Gordic attend court hearing; one suspect denied release
Two youths were let out on $5,000 bail each Wednesday, while a third was denied bail in the case of a 19-year-old who was stabbed to death in Whistler on the May long weekend.
The two 17-year-olds who were released must also observe a curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The third 17-year-old likely faces months in custody before the case goes to trial.
None can be identified because they are in youth court.
A fourth suspect, this one 18 years old and thus facing adult court, is in custody and was also charged with manslaughter Wednesday. He is expected to appear in North Vancouver provincial court Thursday.
“Nothing would totally satisfy us, but we’re very happy at least one individual was denied bail,” said Gianni Buono, whose nephew, Luka Gordic, died soon after Whistler RCMP found him in a pool of blood just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday outside the 7-Eleven at Whistler’s Market parking lot in the Main Village.
Almost three dozen family members, friends and supporters showed up for the Gordics, all wearing black. A dozen family members were on hand to support the three 17-year-olds.
With emotions running high, the two groups were admitted separately, told to use washrooms at opposite ends of the courthouse and asked to empty pockets, open handbags and submit to a metal detector.
One of Gordic’s brothers had to be led out of the courtroom after he banged his hands together while the Crown attorney, Brian MacFarlane, read a description of Gordic’s final minutes of life.
The family will now have to go through the process again with the 18-year-old in adult court, and again when a trial begins.
“We will see this through,” Buono said.
When Judge William Rodgers, following a late break in proceedings after granting the other two bail, said to the third, “You must be detained,” the teen looked at his mom without expression. She buried her head in her arms, shaking.
“He’ll likely be in custody a very long time (before a trial), given the complexities of the case,” the youth’s lawyer, Larry Myers, said.
Brij Mohan, lawyer for one of the two released youths, was happy for his client, but said he felt for the victim’s family and friends.
“As a lawyer, I’m pleased my client was released,” he said. “But besides being a lawyer, I’m a human being and a parent. It was extremely difficult to look in the eyes of the family members who lost their loved one.”