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Slain Surrey woman's family talks to Pierre Poilievre

Federal Conservative leader speaks to Aron Dunn, father of Tori Dunn
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Family and friends gathered at a vigil in Surrey Bend Regional Park in Surrey on June 22 to honour Tori Dunn, who was killed on June 16 in what her family reported as a home invasion. Her family is now calling for bail reform.

Federal conservative leader Pierre Poilievre recently spoke to Aron Dunn, the father of the Surrey woman killed in a reported home invasion.

Tori Dunn died the night of June 16. Adam Mann, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to her death. 

Mann has a lengthy criminal record in B.C. and Ontario and was charged with aggravated assault on June 17 in connection to the May 26 stabbing of a woman in Whalley. 

Aron said in a Facebook post that Poilievre was as outraged as everyone else. "Promised me change of the current bail reform system is on its way," reads the post. 

Aron added that he has not heard from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

Sebastian Skamski, Poilievre's director of media relations told the Now-Leader,  "Mr. Poilievre spoke with Mr. Dunn to express his sincere condolences and hear about his advocacy. Together they discussed Mr. Poilievre’s common sense plan to stop crime and ensure jail and not bail for repeat violent offenders so that they are locked up behind bars and not out terrorizing our streets." 

Skamski also referred to a tweet Poilievre made on Wednesday (July 10) that read, "Trudeau's wacko catch-and-release laws have resulted in the senseless murder of a young woman committed by a violent repeat offender who was released on probation just weeks prior. Tori Dunn should still be alive today. Keep violent repeat offenders behind bars. Bring home safe streets."

Chasity Dunn, Tori's cousin, started an online petition July 3 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."

B.C. Premier David Eby has also spoken out about justice reform since Tori Dunn's death. 

Eby said federal bail reform legislation that took effect on Jan. 4 of this year should have prevented Dunn's death, but didn't.

Bill C-48 aims to address serious, repeat violent offenders with firearms, knives, bear spray and other weapons, as well as addressing risks posed by intimate partner violence.

The bill expands the use of reverse-onus provisions for certain offenders. It means that instead of a Crown prosecutor having to prove in court why an accused person should stay behind bars until their trial, the person who has been charged has to show why they should be released.

The provision was expanded to include more firearms and weapons offences, and more circumstances in which the alleged crime involves intimate partner violence.

More to come...



Anna Burns

About the Author: Anna Burns

I cover breaking news, health care, non-profits and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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