12/05/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: VERDICT REACHED IN ABBOTSFORD DOUBLE HOMICIDE TRIAL
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — In a significant ruling on May 8, 2026, a B.C. Supreme Court justice delivered a guilty verdict against three Surrey men for the 2022 first-degree murders of Arnold and Joanne De Jong.
# # The Convicted
The three defendants, now facing automatic life imprisonment, were identified as:
* Abhijeet Singh: A local cleaning company owner who had previous access to the victims' home.
* Gurkaran Singh: An international student.
* Khushveer Toor: A co-conspirator in the targeted home invasion.
The court found that the men acted in a "willing, knowledgeable, and integral" capacity to carry out a pre-planned attack on the elderly couple.
# # The Case Details
The De Jongs, aged 77 and 76, were discovered deceased in their East Abbotsford home on May 9, 2022. The prosecution successfully argued that the motive was rooted in financial greed. Following the murders, the trio stole credit cards, personal checks, and a power washer.
Critical Evidence Included:
* Forensic Links: A baseball bat recovered from the suspects' vehicle contained Joanne De Jong’s DNA.
* Digital Footprint: Cell phone records revealed that Abhijeet Singh performed internet searches regarding "punishment for murder in Canada" and "self-defense laws" immediately following the crime.
* Financial Fraud: Evidence showed the suspects attempted to transfer approximately $10,000 using the victims' stolen documents.
# # Court Findings
Justice Brenda Brown described the nature of the killings as "intimate and prolonged," formally rejecting the defense's argument that the deaths were the result of a robbery gone wrong. The victims suffered extreme violence; Arnold died of asphyxiation, and Joanne was bludgeoned and sustained fatal injuries to her throat.
# # Sentencing
Under Canadian law, a conviction of first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years. A formal sentencing hearing to address the impact on the family and community is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at the Abbotsford Law Courts.
