A man convicted of murder, linked to organized crime, is fighting to dismiss his case due to delays that he claims violated his Charter rights.
Brandon Teixeira was found guilty by a jury of multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder, almost eight years after the fatal shooting of Nicholas Khabra in Surrey, B.C. The investigation and trial were conducted by law enforcement agencies, including the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C.
Following his conviction, Teixeira attempted to evade arrest but was captured in the United States and extradited back to Canada to face trial. His lawyer argues that, apart from specific instances like his flight, delays in the legal process cannot be solely blamed on the defense.
During a recent court hearing, Crown lawyer Dianne Wiedemann contended that the complexity of the case justifies the delays, citing the Jordan ruling that sets limits on trial timelines to prevent unreasonable delays.
Teixeira, appearing via videoconference in a B.C. Supreme Court session, sported prison attire and tattoos while closely following the proceedings.