Surrey Six Killer Fails in Bid to Overturn Conviction

Cody Haevischer, one of the men convicted in the notorious 2007 'Surrey Six' drug murders, has lost a significant court battle to have his conviction overturned. The ruling came after an evidentiary hearing granted by the Supreme Court of Canada a year prior, following Haevischer's claims of systemic police misconduct and inhumane conditions in custody that prejudiced his right to a fair trial.

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These are tears of happiness and confidence in the law.

Haevischer, a member of the Red Scorpions gang, was convicted in 2014 of six counts of first-degree murder for the killings at Surrey's Balmoral Tower. The victims included six men, two of whom, Ed Schellenberg and Christopher Mohan, were innocent bystanders. Mohan's mother, Eileen, was present at the courthouse and expressed profound relief and happiness at the dismissal of Haevischer's application.

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To respect the death of my son… And now courts have respected Christopher also and everyone who died that day, so it’s a beautiful day.

Justice Martha Devlin presided over the hearing, which involved 39 witnesses and 209 exhibits. She ruled that the "vast majority of Mr. Haevischer’s allegations simply have no merit." While acknowledging that some instances of solitary confinement breached Haevischer's Charter rights, Devlin determined these actions were "prompted by legitimate concerns" for his safety. Consequently, she dismissed the application, emphasizing that "any other outcome would not serve to protect the integrity of the justice system."

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The people who took my son’s life have used the taxpayers’ dollars to their advantage in every turn to set themselves free while we grieve for the loss of our people.

Eileen Mohan shared her emotional response, stating that justice had prevailed. She reflected on the prolonged legal battles, noting how those convicted had utilized taxpayer funds to challenge their sentences. "There’s some peace in my heart and soul and mind," she said, finding solace in the court's decision that respected the memory of her son and the other victims. The court had previously noted that Haevischer "extinguished the lives of six defenceless men" before imposing concurrent life sentences.

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The vast majority of Mr. Haevischer’s allegations simply have no merit.