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Cleaning Business Link to Abbotsford Couple's Murder Trial
13 Jan
Summary
- Three young men face murder charges for killing a couple.
- The accused allegedly knew the victims through a cleaning business.
- The trial began on Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court.
A trial is underway in British Columbia for three young men accused of murdering an elderly couple. Gurkaran Singh, Abhijeet Singh, and Khushveer Toor, all in their mid-20s, have denied two counts each of first-degree murder in the deaths of Arnold and Joanne De Jong. The prosecution alleges the trio gained access to the couple's rural property through a cleaning business operated by Abhijeet Singh.
The De Jongs, aged 77 and 76, hired AS Cleaners, owned by Abhijeet, for services in 2021 and 2022. Prosecutors contend that the defendants, who worked for the company, used their knowledge of the property and the couple's solitary living situation to plan the crime. The Crown suggests motive stemmed from debt, financial pressure, and greed, with the accused intending to steal valuables.
Investigators discovered Joanne De Jong bound in her bed with severe injuries, while Arnold De Jong was found in another room, also bound and deceased from asphyxiation. Evidence expected includes fingerprints, DNA, cellphone records, and financial documents. The accused were arrested in Surrey after travelling to Ontario and returning to B.C., moving into a new residence.
