The man accused of shooting Jaskaran Singh Sandhu at a Mr. Lube in Coquitlam two years ago will go on trial in December.
Sukhdeep Singh Poony is facing an attempted murder charge as well as charges of possession of a loaded firearm, extortion and uttering threats in the September 2011 incident that sent Sandhu to Royal Columbian Hospital with serious injuries.
The victim survived that attempt on his life but was killed 15 months later in Surrey, creating some question as to whether the Crown would have enough evidence to pursue the case.
But last week, Crown spokesperson Neil MacKenzie confirmed Poony's trial would begin Dec. 5.
The Mr. Lube shooting occurred in broad daylight on the afternoon of Sept. 28, 2011. Sandhu was standing near his black Nissan Altima in one of the oil change bays when a man approached and began firing. Approximately five shots were fired before the suspect jumped in a vehicle and sped away.
Lower Mainland Regional Police Service spokesperson Sgt. Peter Thiessen said at the time the shooting was targeted and the victim was known to police. Coquitlam RCMP also told The Tri-City News that while the shooting appeared to be gang-related, Sandhu was not directly aligned with any particular group.
In January 2013, Sandhu's body was found in the 12300-block of Colebrook Road in Surrey in what the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said was a targeted attack.
"Investigators continue to search for a motive behind the killing, including the possibility of it being gang-related," Cpl. Adam MacIntosh said in a statement.
