The mother of a bystander killed in the gangland execution of six people in Surrey, B.C., says justice has been done, after two men were found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday.
Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were each convicted Thursday on six counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the October 2007 killings of six men at an apartment building in Surrey, B.C. A first-degree murder conviction comes with an automatic life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.
"Today is a beautiful day," Eileen Mohan told 愛污传媒 Channel after the guilty verdicts were handed down. Mohan said her son, Christopher, was killed because he witnessed the execution of a drug dealer in the apartment across the hall from their home.
"They stole his life," Mohan said of her son.
The court heard that Haevischer, Johnston and a third individual referred to as Person X entered the apartment of 21-year-old Corey Lal, a rival drug dealer whom they'd been sent to kill, on Oct. 19, 2007. Lal's brother, 26-year-old Michael, and associates Eddie Narong, 22, and Ryan Bartolomeo, 19, were also in the apartment at the time. All four were shot dead.
Neighbour Christopher Mohan, 22, and fireplace technician Ed Schellenberg, 55, were also killed. Schellenberg left behind a wife and two children.
The court heard that all six individuals were killed execution-style, with hoods placed over them before they were each shot in the head.
But B.C. Supreme Court Judge Catherine Wedge said Corey Lal was the intended target of the hit. "Both Mr. Haevischer and Mr. Johnston went to suite 1505 with the common purpose of killing Mr. Lal," Wedge told the court. Wedge said Haevischer and Johnston played key roles in the killings.
Wrong place, wrong time
Eileen Mohan said her son was leaving their apartment to play basketball at the time of the murders. He had been waiting there while Schellenberg fixed their fireplace, and when Schellenberg's work was done, they left the apartment together.
That's when they were spotted by the killers and dragged into the other apartment for execution, Mohan said.
Mohan said she's happy her son's killers will be in a jail for a long time.
"My shoulders are a little bit lighter today," she said.
Gang ties
The 'Surrey Six' killings were part of a larger gang war that included multiple drive-by shootings and assassinations in the Vancouver area over several years.
During the Haevischer-Johnston trial, the Crown argued that the leaders of the Red Scorpion gang tried to extort $200,000 from Corey Lal. When he didn't pay, they ordered his execution.
The unidentified individual in the case, Person X, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in April of 2009. Person X is currently serving a life sentence, and is protected under a publication ban.
Gang leader Michael Le was also arrested in connection with the murders, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder last December.
Jamie Bacon, the former leader of the Red Scorpions gang, is scheduled to stand trial next May for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He also faces three additional charges alleging he ordered a hit on Person X.
Eileen Mohan says she'll follow Bacon's trial closely. "I'm a very loyal mom, and I will be there for the Jamie Bacon trial," she said.
She said she would also be at the trial of Sophon Sek, who is awaiting a separate trial for manslaughter.
It's been almost seven years to the day since the six victims were discovered in Surrey.
The Haevischer and Johnston trial took a year to complete, and involved 73 witnesses.
With files from The Canadian Press
