Jamie Bacon to face new trial in Surrey Six case after appeal allowed by court
Posted May 21, 2020 9:37 pm.
Last Updated May 21, 2020 9:38 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A new trial has been ordered for Jamie Bacon –the man accused of masterminding the Surrey Six killings in October of 2007.
Bacon was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to murder in 2009. He has been in custody ever since.
The B.C. Court of Appeal ordered a new trial Thursday, after the Crown appealed a B.C. Supreme Court judge’s 2017 decision to stay the proceedings in the case.
Much of the evidence and reasons for the decision to stay the charges were sealed by the court.
Similarly, many details in the BC Court of Appeal decision are sealed.
“The appeal is allowed and the charges are remitted to the trial court for trial,” according to court documents.
“The reasons for judgment are of the Court, and are signed. However, as a consequence of issues of various privileges and confidential information, the British Columbia Supreme Court judgment is sealed and the hearing of the appeal was in camera. The multiple issues of confidentiality means that our full reasons for judgment must be sealed and only an abbreviated version complying with the obligations of confidentiality may be released to the public,” the decision continues.
A new trial has been ordered for Jamie Bacon –the man accused of masterminding October 2007 #SurreySix massacre. #BC's highest court has overturned lower decision to stay charges in 2017. New lawyer says no decision yet on whether to further challenge this ruling. @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) May 22, 2020
In 2014, two men were convicted of six counts of first-degree murder in the case.
Among those killed were bystanders Christopher Mohan and Ed Schellenberg.
Mohan’s mother posted to Twitter after the decision.
An early Birthday gift for my son Christopher “Bacon Stay Appeal – Successful “ thank you to the Judges, Crown, Mark L & RCMP pic.twitter.com/qWkBWEpMSh
— Eileen Mohan (@eileen_mohan) May 22, 2020
Bacon’s new lawyer, Kevin Westell, says Thursday’s decision may still be challenged.
“That’s a decision that our client will make in consultation with us, once we’ve had a little bit more time to digest the reasons,” he says.
“As you might expect, he’s disappointed with the result. He’s not had a chance to review the reasons. We will do that as his counsel on our own and then, consult with him and then, we will decide what the next steps are.”
No new trial date has been set because Bacon could further challenge this ruling with the Supreme Court of Canada.
“It’s an unusual case. It’s been an unusually complicated matter,” Westell says.
“There were lengthy and prolonged applications that took place before the original stay. It’s a unique situation. I can’t deny that it’s taken a long time. That’s for sure.”
With files from the Canadian Press
