B.C. judge says parole rules for multiple murderers unconstitutional

ABBOTSFORD BRITISH COLUMBIA — A British Columbia Supreme Court judge says a section of the Criminal Code restricting multiple murderers from applying for early parole under a faint-hope clause is unconstitutional.

Justice Brenda Brown says the section of the code prescribing 25 years of parole ineligibility infringes upon the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment.

Her decision has delayed sentencing again for Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Toor, who were found guilty of first-degree murder in May for the home-invasion killings of Arnold and Joanne De Jong.

The judge did not give her reasons for the decision, but lawyers will be back in court for another argument that will involve whether the infringement can be justified under Section 1 of the Charter.