A Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»Provincial Court judge is now hearing evidence in a preliminary inquiry for a man charged with murder in the slaying of another man at a Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»rooming house.
Jorge Marquez Medina, 67, is charged with the murder.
Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»police said they were called on Jan. 17, 2023, to reports of a shooting inside the West Hotel rooming house near East Hastings and Carrall streets.
Inside, officers found the body of 20-year-old Thunder Dennis of Chase, B.C.
The accused remains in custody.
Judge Kathryn Denhoff is hearing the case.
Medina stood in the prisoner dock clad in red jail sweats, clutching a bundle of papers. He soon squatted on the floor with his head in his hands before being allowed to move to the lawyers' table with veteran Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»defence lawyer Jim Heller, who is representing him.
Preliminary inquiries are held to determine if enough evidence exists to proceed to trial.
Such inquiries are covered by a publication ban so as not to taint a possible jury pool if an accused elects trial by B.C. Supreme Court judge and jury.