Three Indian-origin men have been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of an elderly Canadian couple in Abbotsford, British Columbia, marking a major breakthrough in a case that had deeply shaken the local community. British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown ruled on Friday that Gurkaran Singh, Abhijeet Singh and Khushveer Toor played a “willing and integral role” in the deaths of 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and 76-year-old Joanne De Jong, who were found murdered inside their rural home on Arcadian Way in May 2022.
Prosecutors argued that the killings were financially motivated and part of a planned robbery, while defence lawyers claimed the incident was a robbery gone wrong. The three accused, all in their 20s, had pleaded not guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28.
Court Rejects ‘Botched Robbery’ Defence, Calls Murders Planned
According to CBC News and multiple Canadian media reports, the court accepted the prosecution’s argument that the murders were deliberate and carefully planned rather than accidental. Justice Brenda Brown stated in her ruling that each accused was a “willing, knowledgeable and integral participant” in the killings. Prosecutors told the court that the three men jointly planned to rob and kill the couple before stealing credit cards, cheques and a power washer from the house.
Investigators presented circumstantial and forensic evidence during the trial, including DNA recovered from the crime scene, rope allegedly used to tie up Arnold De Jong, and a metal baseball bat found in a vehicle linked to the accused. Prosecutors also cited phone records and internet searches allegedly made by Abhijeet Singh after news of the killings broke, including searches related to punishment for murder in Canada.
Reports from the trial described the crime scene as particularly disturbing. Arnold De Jong was reportedly found with his head and face wrapped in duct tape, while Joanne De Jong’s throat had been slit. Both victims’ hands and feet were bound with rope. Authorities said the couple were found dead in separate bedrooms inside their Abbotsford home.
Victims Were Well-Known Residents
Arnold and Joanne De Jong were long-time residents of Abbotsford, a city in south-western British Columbia near Vancouver. Their deaths in May 2022 had sent shockwaves through the quiet rural community, prompting an extensive homicide investigation by Canadian authorities. Police had earlier described the killings as targeted and violent, though details regarding the exact motive remained limited during the early stages of the investigation.
Court proceedings later revealed that the accused men had previously worked at the couple’s property through a cleaning company owned by Abhijeet Singh. Prosecutors argued that this prior access gave them familiarity with the house and contributed to the planning of the crime. Defence lawyers, however, maintained that the evidence did not conclusively prove premeditated murder and argued that the deaths resulted from a robbery that escalated unexpectedly. The court ultimately rejected that argument and upheld two counts of first-degree murder against each accused.
The case has also drawn attention within sections of the Indian diaspora in Canada, particularly because all three convicted men are of Indian origin. However, community leaders and observers have urged people not to generalise or stigmatise entire communities based on the actions of individuals. The verdict has instead renewed conversations around violent crime, accountability and social trust in multicultural societies.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The brutality of this crime has understandably left a deep emotional impact on the victims’ family, neighbours and wider community. At the same time, moments like these remind us why justice systems must remain grounded in evidence, due process and fairness rather than prejudice or public anger. Crimes committed by individuals should never become an excuse for stereotyping entire communities or fuelling xenophobia.
In increasingly polarised times, societies must respond to violence with both accountability and empathy, ensuring justice for victims while resisting narratives that divide people along ethnic or migrant identities. How can communities strengthen trust and public safety without allowing fear and prejudice to overshadow compassion and coexistence?
Three men charged in the killing of an Abbotsford couple during a home invasion in 2022 have been found guilty of first-degree murder.https://t.co/DpSda3rCPZ
— Global BC (@GlobalBC) May 9, 2026
