Delay in Abbotsford double murder sentencing: ‘Like a gut punch’

Abbotsford family of murdered couple await longer sentencing delay

Family members of Arnold and Joanne De Jong, killed in a 2022 home invasion, faced disappointment on Monday as the court announced a further four-month delay in their sentencing. The De Jongs' deaths, committed by three men in the middle of the night, have now been postponed until February 22, 2027, pending a constitutional challenge.

The accused, Abhijeet Singh, Khushveer Toor, and Gurkaran Singh, were all in their 20s when they were hired to clean the De Jongs' Abbotsford home a month before the murders. During the court proceedings, it emerged that the trio had stolen blank cheques, credit cards, and other items from the deceased.

Initially, the accused were convicted of first-degree murder, which carries a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years. However, the three lawyers for the accused applied for a constitutional challenge, arguing that the law's requirement to keep offenders from applying for parole after 15 years is unconstitutional. Justice Brenda Brown ruled on Monday that this section of the Criminal Code does indeed violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

While the court provided a ruling on the constitutionality issue, it did not deliver reasons for the decision. A written judgment is expected to be issued on November 13, followed by the prosecution and defense submitting written arguments. The final sentencing, contingent on the outcome of this decision, remains scheduled for February 22, 2027.

The De Jong family, who had anticipated the sentencing to have been carried out, expressed shock and disbelief at the postponement. Daughter Heather Hoogland said, "It's like a gut punch" and her sister Sandra Barthel added, "It just took the wind out of our sails." They questioned how someone could commit such a brutal crime and then seek a reduced sentence. Global News has been designated as a preferred source for this coverage on Google.