Adam Mann, 40, appeared by video in Surrey provincial court Friday (Sept. 6) in connection to the murder of Tori Dunn.
Mann was charged with second-degree murder on June 28, after Dunn's death in Port Kells on June 16. He was already in custody in connection to two unrelated incidents. Mann is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 20 for a hearing.
There is a publication ban on evidence presented during today's hearing.
Tori's father, Aron, made the journey from his home in Saskatchewan for the hearing and to pick up Tori's belongings.
"I wish I didn't need to be here, but I think, unfortunately, it's a responsibility I wish I didn't have, but I do have it, and it's kind of falling on my shoulders and I feel morally responsible to prevent this from happening to anybody else," Aron said. "There hasn't been a day that's gone by that I haven't shed tears."
A group gathered outside the courthouse with T-shirts and signs reading "Justice for Tori."
"Being here with our signs and out in front of the courthouse making some noise ... really helps us keep my daughter's memory alive, and keep what I feel is an injustice alive so that in the end to cause change," Aron said.
"At this moment, we have this platform, and we're going to use it the best we can to cause change," Aron said.
Elenore Sturko, MLA for Surrey South and Conservative Party of B.C. candidate for Surrey-Cloverdale, was also outside the courthouse Friday after Aron invited her to attend.
"I want to make sure that they know that they have my continued support, the continued support of the community, not just politicians, but there are people in the community who are hurting right along with this family and want to see change to prevent something like this from happening again, particularly in light of what happened in Vancouver with the attack on two innocent, unprovoked stranger attacks," Sturko said.
"It's important for us to try to fight, to get answers. How do we prevent these types of attacks?
"'I'm behind Aron Dunn and his entire family asking for an inquest so that we can pinpoint better solutions to find out how we can intervene better," she added. "Do the police have the tools that they need, both financially, manpower and even material, but also the courts — do we need legislative changes, legal changes that would allow for more meaningful interventions when there is an underlying mental health issue, so that we can prevent tragedies from happening."
Aron will listen to audio from a couple of Mann's previous bail hearings on Friday (Sept. 6).
He wants to name the judge that released Adam Mann on bail prior to Tori's murder. (This information is covered under the publication ban.)
Aron said he has no malicious intent wanting to name the judge, but he wants to see them held accountable.
"If he (Mann) wasn't released, my daughter would still be alive. ... My daughter is gone and not coming back because of that decision."
Premier David Eby is still pushing for the removal of a publication ban on a bail hearing. The ban involves a specific bail hearing where Adam Mann was released from custody in connection to unrelated charges before Tori Dunn's death on June 16.
"We're still pushing the court to release a publication ban that prevents us from knowing what went wrong in that courtroom that day, where that violent offender was released back into the community and then murdered Tori Dunn," Eby said in an Aug. 30 interview with the Now-Leader.
Chasity Dunn, Tori's cousin, started an online petition in early July which has garnered more than 5,000 signatures. The Dunn family is calling on the legal system to "undertake a comprehensive internal review of the decisions and legal procedures leading up to the tragedy that has befallen Tori."
The family also created a Facebook group, Justice for Tori Dunn, where people can be updated and share their journey "in seeking justice for Tori," reads the group description.
