A crowded courtroom in Abbotsford, B.C., was informed on Monday that the individuals accused of murdering a senior couple had previously provided services to them through a cleaning company. Arnold and Joanne De Jong were unresponsive by phone the day after hosting a family gathering on May 8, 2022, leading their son-in-law to investigate.
The prosecution claims that three men are responsible for the couple’s deaths, citing reasons such as debt, financial strain, and greed as motives. Gurkaran Singh, Abhijeet Singh, and Khushveer Toor have entered not guilty pleas to two charges each of first-degree murder.
According to Crown prosecutor Dorothy Tsui, evidence indicates that the trio had ties to the De Jongs through Abhijeet Singh’s cleaning business, which had previously serviced their residence. Tsui mentioned that Gurkaran Singh, one of the suspects, had recently arrived in Canada on a student visa just before the incident.
Tsui disclosed that both Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Singh Toor deposited checks exceeding $5,000 into their bank accounts, allegedly signed by Joanne De Jong right after the killings. The memo lines on the checks indicated payment for “clean up of house.”
During the trial, it was revealed that the De Jongs were discovered deceased in separate rooms, with their hands and feet bound. The court heard testimony from Abbotsford police officers who were among the first to arrive at the scene.
Constable Andre Nadeau described finding Arnold De Jong with duct tape covering his nose and mouth, impairing his ability to breathe. Meanwhile, Constable Jordan D’Alessandro detailed discovering Joanne De Jong with signs of head and neck injuries.
A pathologist is expected to testify that Joanne De Jong passed away due to sharp and blunt force trauma, while Arnold De Jong’s cause of death was asphyxiation. Family members expressed disbelief over the tragic loss of their parents during a court recess.
The trial at the B.C. Supreme Court in Abbotsford is projected to span eight weeks, with the Crown planning to present around 24 witnesses. The defense attorneys for the accused individuals have yet to present their side of the story.
