Convicted murderer seeks dismissal over trial delays in BC

Man Convicted of Murder Seeks Case Dismissal

A man convicted of first-degree murder is trying to have his case dismissed. He claims that delays in the process violated his Charter rights.

Brandon Teixeira was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and discharging a firearm with intent last August. This conviction came nearly eight years after the shooting death of 28-year-old Nicholas Khabra in Surrey, B.C., in October 2017.

The charges and trial followed an investigation by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C.

Police stated that an attempt was made to arrest Teixeira after charges were laid in 2018. However, he fled to the United States. He was arrested in Oroville, California, on December 1, 2019, and extradited back to Canada in April 2020 to face trial.

Teixeira’s lawyer, Vicki Williams, argued in a B.C. Supreme Court hearing that, except for two periods, including her client’s flight, no delays were solely due to the defense.

Crown lawyer Dianne Wiedemann countered that the defense conduct causing delays was “broad in scope.” She stated that the case was complex enough to qualify for an exception under the Supreme Court of Canada’s Jordan ruling, which sets time limits to prevent unreasonable trial delays.

Teixeira appeared at the hearing on Monday via videoconference before Justice Jennifer Duncan. He wore orange prison clothing and had dark facial hair, with a sleeve of tattoos visible on one arm.

During the hearing, he paced the room at the correctional facility before sitting down to follow the documents laid out in front of him.