Two inmates at the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre are facing criminal charges for a foiled escape attempt, with one of them connected to a notorious gangland killing in Toronto. Surrey Police Service revealed that on December 7, 2025, correctional officers thwarted the escape bid within the facility’s secure perimeter. The individuals involved were apprehended before succeeding in their plan.
The SPS Prolific Offender Team handled the case, leading to the approval of charges against 40-year-old Dean Wiwchar and 34-year-old Harry Christensen. The charges include attempting to break out of prison with the intent to escape and trying to evade lawful custody. Both inmates are currently in custody, serving their original sentences while awaiting further legal proceedings.
Harry Christensen had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in March 2025 for his involvement in the 2018 killing of a man in British Columbia. Dean Wiwchar, known nationally to law enforcement, was convicted for his role in the 2012 Little Italy café shooting that resulted in the death of John Raposo. Police identified Wiwchar as a hired assassin linked to the assassination, part of a larger criminal dispute within the Hells Angels network.
Wiwchar’s association with Rabih “Robby” Alkhalil, a notorious B.C. gangster, further underscored his criminal connections. Alkhalil, later apprehended in Qatar in 2025, was convicted of orchestrating the murder of John Raposo, with Wiwchar identified as the triggerman. Nicola Nero and Martino Caputo were also implicated in the crime, eventually convicted of first-degree murder for their roles in the planning.