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One dead after fight at North Fraser Pretrial

A fight at North Fraser Pretrial Centre last week has left one inmate dead and another facing serious charges
NFPC
A fight at North Fraser Pretrial last week has left one inmate dead and another facing serious charges.

A fight at North Fraser Pretrial Centre last week has left one inmate dead and another facing serious charges.

Zachariah Pakarinen, 27, was initially charged with aggravated assault on April 20, three days after the incident took place. However, charges are expected to be upgraded after the victim succumbed to his injuries on Friday and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the file.

"At this point investigators continue to gather evidence of the assault and what led up to the initial altercation," said Sgt. Stephanie Ashton.

Coquitlam RCMP attended the NFPC on Sunday, after staff reported a fight between two inmates. On April 20, investigators were advised that the victim was not expected to survive his injuries, at which point IHIT took over the investigation. 

Pakarinen has a lengthy criminal record. 

Last fall, the Coquitlam RCMP's prolific target team arrested him in connection with a number of residential break and enters and theft from automobiles.

On September 17, he was arrested on Austin Avenue wearing a reflective construction vest and hard hat driving a Honda Civic. When officers closed in, Pakarinen took off on foot but was quickly apprehended.

At that time, he was charged with three counts of break and enter, two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of possession of break-in tools and two counts of possession of stolen property. He was also charged with theft of a motor vehicle and theft of a licence plate. 

More to come…