Abbotsford Double Murder Sentencing Delayed Until February 2027

The sentencing hearing for Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Toor, convicted of the first-degree murders of 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and his 76-year-old wife, Joanne De Jong, has been postponed until February 2027.

The couple were killed during a home invasion at their Abbotsford residence nearly four years ago. The three men were found guilty of first-degree murder in May, an offence that carries a mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years.

However, the three convicted men have sought the right to apply for early parole under the Criminal Code’s “faint-hope clause.” The B.C. Supreme Court has indicated that preventing multiple-murder offenders from applying for early parole is unconstitutional.

Further arguments are scheduled for November to determine whether the men could become eligible to apply for parole after serving 15 years instead of 25 years. The legal issue has delayed the sentencing decision until February 2027.