‘Shattered’: Daughters of murdered B.C. couple tell of anguish at sentencing hearing
Family members described sleepless nights and lasting fear after three men were convicted of first-degree murder in the home invasion, court heard.
- On Thursday in Abbotsford, family members of Arnold and Joanne De Jong delivered victim impact statements as the three men convicted of their 2022 murder sat in court with their heads down.
- Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh, and Khushveer Toor were found guilty this month of first-degree murder after a 2022 home invasion in which 77-year-old Arnold died by asphyxiation and 76-year-old Joanne was bludgeoned.
- Daughter Sandra Barthel told the court that describing the impact seemed like an "impossible feat," while Helen Leusink, Joanne's sister, said "shock, anger and confusion consumed me" following the deaths.
- Justice Brenda Brown set dates in June to address a constitutional challenge filed by Toor's defence lawyer regarding early parole eligibility, as first-degree murder carries a mandatory 25-year life sentence.
- Brian Barthel said the murders "robbed" his daughter of years with her grandparents, while Heather Hoogland, the couple's youngest daughter, shared that her sons don't know the horrific details of the deaths.
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32 Articles
Sask Today
'Shattered': Daughters of murdered B.C. couple tell of anguish at sentencing hearing
ABBOTSFORD — Family and friends of Arnold and Joanne De Jong filled a courtroom in Abbotsford, B.C., on Thursday for the reading of anguished victim impact statements, weeks after three men were convicted of murdering the couple.
Cloverdale Reporter
Today In BCAbbotsford couple’s loved ones confront convicted Surrey killers
Tears were shed, and hugs were shared as more than 20 people explained how their lives have been forever changed in the aftermath of the double homicide of the De Jongs. Khushveer Toor, Gurkaran Singh, and Abhijeet Singh – who have all been found guilty of first-degree murder – sat in B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday (May 28) and were forced to listen to the words of the family and friends of Arnold and Joanne De Jong, who were killed in May 2022.…
The Toronto Star
‘Shattered’: Daughters of murdered B.C. couple tell of anguish at sentencing hearing
ABBOTSFORD - Family and friends of Arnold and Joanne De Jong filled a courtroom in Abbotsford, B.C., on Thursday for the reading of anguished victim impact statements, weeks after three
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