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Defense to BC man’s murder charge awaits Crown disclosure
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Defense to BC man’s murder charge awaits Crown disclosure

Hitkaran Johal, 25, died on the spot. A second man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

A Langley man charged with first-degree murder in connection with a July 26 Vancouver shooting won’t be back in court until January as defense lawyers await disclosure in the case.

Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers were called to 63rd Avenue East and Inverness Street that evening for reports that two men had been shot in a vehicle, which then collided with two other vehicles.

Hitkaran Johal, 25, died on the spot. A second man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The VPD Major Crimes Section identified Rylee Shipley, 27, as the suspect.

The BC Prosecution Service approved one count of first-degree murder, attempted murder with a firearm and aggravated assault against Shipley.

He appeared for the fourth time in Vancouver provincial court on October 25 before Judge Ellen Gordon.

A representative for defense lawyer Simon Buck told Gordon that Shipley’s team had received one of two packages of evidence in the case and believed the second would arrive in seven to eight weeks.

Shipley, who appeared by video, remains in custody.

His next appearance will be on January 7.

He was arrested Aug. 21 in Alberta with the assistance of the Calgary Police Service and Alberta RCMP, VPD said.

At the time of the incident, police said a vehicle was set on fire near 63rd Avenue East and Prince Edward Street shortly after the shooting.

The VPD said they believe the car is linked to the homicide.