Duct tape around nose and mouth, blood on head and neck: 3 Indian men charged with murder of elderly couple in Canada in 2022

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• Trial starts for three men accused of killing elderly couple in British Columbia
• Victims found dead in home; accused had prior links via cleaning services
• Accused pleaded not guilty; financial stress and greed alleged as motive

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The trial of three Indian origin men accused of murdering an elderly couple in Canada’s British Columbia began on Monday, according to Canadian media reports.

The victims, Arnold and Joanne De Jong, were found dead inside their home on May 9, 2022. The accused have been identified as Gurkaran Singh, Abhijeet Singh, and Khushveer Singh Toor. A court in Abbotsford was told that the men had prior links to the couple through cleaning services carried out at their residence.

The prosecution informed the court that concern was raised after Arnold and Joanne could not be reached by phone on the morning of May 9, a day after a family gathering at their house on May 8, 2022. One of their sons-in-law then went to check on them and discovered the bodies. Prosecutors alleged that the accused were driven by debt, financial stress, and greed, which led to the killings.

According to a report by CBC News, all three accused have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of first-degree murder.

During the opening of the trial, Crown prosecutor Dorothy Tsui told the court that evidence would show the accused were connected to the De Jongs through Abhijeet Singh’s cleaning company. The company had reportedly carried out cleaning work at the couple’s home in July 2021 and again in April 2022. Tsui also informed the court that Gurkaran Singh arrived in Canada on a student visa on April 16, 2022.

She further said that shortly after the killings, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Singh Toor deposited cheques worth $3,601 each into their bank accounts. The cheques were allegedly signed by Joanne De Jong, and the memo lines stated that the payments were for house cleaning services.

"While processing the scene, a forensic identification officer heard a voicemail being left on the De Jongs' landline phone, indicating that there were suspicious transactions on a credit card," Tsui told the courtroom.

She added that police pursued this lead and obtained banking and phone records to identify possible suspects.

According to CBC News, Arnold and Joanne De Jong were found in separate bedrooms of their home, with their hands and feet tied using rope.

An Abbotsford police officer who attended the scene told the court that Arnold was found lying on a bed under a comforter, with duct tape wrapped around his head. The officer said the tape covered his nose and mouth, preventing him from breathing.

Another officer testified that Joanne was found lying on her back on a bed, with visible blood around her head and neck.

Crown prosecutor Dorothy Tsui told the court that a pathologist is expected to testify that Arnold died due to asphyxiation, while Joanne died as a result of sharp and blunt force trauma.