RCMP officers search the property surrounding an apartment building where six people died in a mulitple homicide in Surrey, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. On Thursday, two of the men accused in what's come to be known as the "Surrey Six" slayings will learn their fate from B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
October 02, 2014 - 11:49 AM
VANCOUVER - Two men accused in the gang slayings of six people in a Surrey, B.C., apartment seven years ago have been found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection to the slayings of six people.
B.C. Supreme Court Judge Catherine Wedge says Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were part of a planned and deliberate act to kill.
On Oct. 19, 2007, Haevischer, Johnston and a man who can only be identified as Person X carried out the execution-style killings of Corey Lal, his brother Michael, Eddie Narong and Ryan Bartolomeo.
They also killed 55-year-old Ed Schellenberg and 22-year-old Chris Mohan, who were innocent bystanders caught up in the gangland hit.
Their co-accused, Michael Le, pleaded guilty to conspiracy after the trial began and was sentenced to 12 years, gang leader Jamie Bacon faces trial next May for conspiracy and first-degree murder in connection to the mass killing.
TIMELINE OF SURREY SIX SHOOTINGS AFTER MEN FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY, MURDER
VANCOUVER - Significant dates in the case of a gang shooting that killed six people, including two innocent bystanders, in Surrey, B.C.:
Oct. 19, 2007: Six people are found dead in a highrise condo in Surrey. The men are later identified as Michael Lal, 26; Ryan Bartolomeo, 19; Corey Lal, 21; Eddie Narong, 22; Ed Schellenberg, 55; and Chris Mohan, 22. Police say Schellenberg, a fireplace repairman, and Mohan, who lived across the hall from the murder scene, were in the wrong place.
April 3, 2009: A man pleads guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, but due to a publication ban he can only be referred to as Person X.
April 4, 2009: RCMP announce charges against Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnson, both 24, for conspiracy and six counts of first-degree murder. RCMP also announce charges against James Bacon, 23, for conspiracy and one count of first-degree murder.
June 18, 2009: Mounties announce that Quang Vinh Thang (Michael) Le, 24, was arrested the day before as he arrived in Manila from Vietnam. Charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy were approved in Canada a month earlier.
June 29, 2009: Police announce Le has been extradited to Canada from the Philippines.
Sept. 30, 2013: Haevischer, Johnson and Le stand trial in Vancouver. Bacon will stand trial separately at a later date.
Nov. 28, 2013: Le pleads guilty to conspiracy to commit murder; the Crown says it won't proceed with the murder charge.
Dec. 17, 2013: Le is sentenced to 12 years in prison. With time served, three years remain on his sentence and he could be eligible to apply for parole by the end of 2014.
April 7, 2014: B.C. Supreme Court Judge Catherine Wedge lifts a publication ban that allows reporters to reveal that Le signed an immunity deal and agreed to testify against Haevischer and Johnson. Le is also expected to testify at Bacon's trial.
May 20, 2014: The Crown wraps up its case against Haevischer and Johnston.
June 9, 2014: Defence lawyers for Haevischer and Johnston announce they won't be calling any evidence.
July 2, 2014: The Crown begins closing arguments.
Oct. 2, 2014: Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit murder and six counts of first-degree murder in the deaths.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014