Edmonton Chinatown Double Homicide Trial: Prosecutors Argue Intent

Article content The man charged with beating two men to death in Edmonton’s Chinatown nearly four years ago displayed “significant mental capacity” around the time of the killings and had the ability to form an intent for murder, prosecutors argued on the first day of his trial. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address or Article content Justin Bone began a long-delayed murder trial Monday for the deaths of Hung Trang and Ban Phuc Hoang, who were killed while working in the central Edmonton neighbourhood on May 18, 2022. Article content Article content Article content During the Crown’s opening statement, prosecutor Anders Quist told court that Hoang, 61, was fatally injured while working at his shop, Universal Electronics and Video. Trang, 64, was attacked in the bathroom of an auto body shop a short time later. Article content Bone was observed on CCTV cameras near the scenes of the homicides, while his DNA was found beneath one of the victims’ fingernails, suggesting he fought back, the prosecutor added. Article content Bone spent the day sitting silently beside his lawyer, David Wolsey, wearing a black sweater. He has dark, closely buzzed hair with what appear to be razor nicks on the back and a small ponytail on top. Article content Bone has sought a mental health assessment, which had not been completed as of Monday. Article content Wolsey said the defence plans to pursue an abuse of process application related to the RCMP’s decision to transport Bone to Edmonton a few days before the killings, in breach of a release order banning him from the city. Article content Video shows lead up to auto shop attack Article content The Crown began its case with the killing of Trang, who worked at Albert’s Autobody, 10604 98 St. NW. Article content Article content A video complied from security cameras shows Bone approaching the shop’s garage bay. He sets down a white bag and spends around seven minutes lingering in the entryway while an employee works on a blue car. At one point, Bone approaches the worker and later takes a drink from a bottle of Heineken beer, later seized as evidence and found to contain Bone’s DNA. Article content Article content After a few minutes, Trang and another employee enter the garage and appear to speak with Bone. Trang eventually enters the business washroom. Article content Article content Bone follows around 30 seconds later. At one point, the employees stop what they’re doing and turn toward the washroom. One then runs off down the street, returning with five other employees, some carrying tools. Article content Bone eventually exits the washroom and leaves the garage as a crowd of employees forms. He picks up his bag, then heads northeast while Trang’s coworkers keep an eye on him from a distance.