Family of B.C. pastor killed in crash angry as driver found not responsible

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 10, 2025 1:17 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

The household of a B.C. pastor killed successful a fiery clang adjacent the Peace Arch borderline crossing says justness hasn't been served aft the antheral implicated successful the decease was recovered not criminally liable for his actions. 

A B.C. provincial tribunal heard that a Washington authorities antheral was driving 120 kilometres per hr successful May of 2019 erstwhile his conveyance slammed into Rev. Tom Cheung's car, which past burst into flames. 

Cheung's widow, Athens Cheung, said connected Friday that aft six years of waiting for a trial, the accused, Gurbinder Singh, was recovered not criminally liable connected relationship of a intelligence disorder. 

Cheung's son, Benjamin, says his household was astatine the tribunal connected April 17 erstwhile the justice made the ruling, and the antheral was released. 

The household says they don't recognize wherefore helium was simply freed, they were ne'er fixed the RCMP report, don't person the reasons for judgement and don't cognize wherefore the B.C. Prosecution Service rejected an appeal. 

The prosecution work said successful a connection Friday that the justice ruled the Crown had proven the carnal enactment that constitutes offence beyond a tenable uncertainty but that the accused had raised a tenable uncertainty regarding the "mental intent" of the man's actions and truthful acquitted him.

"We are reviewing the reasons for judgment, but mostly speaking, appellate courts are rather hesitant to overturn a proceedings judge's findings of fact," work the statement. 

The household is urging lawmakers to hole gaps successful the ineligible system, saying that years of waiting without answers has near them successful symptom and feeling similar their rights weren't heard oregon respected. 

The B.C. authorities said successful a connection that Attorney General Niki Sharma would beryllium unfastened to gathering with the household and understands "the value of proceeding straight from those impacted by the justness system."

"This is an incredibly tragic case. Our thoughts are with Pastor Tom Cheung's household and the assemblage during this hard time, and we admit however frustrating their circumstances person been," the connection reads.

The eldest son, Solomon Cheung, said the years that followed his father's decease near him to conflict with grief and depression. 

"I paid retired of my ain pouch for counselling, and medications to assistance maine slumber done each the accent and pain."

He said helium won't springiness up connected the combat to question justness for his father. 

"Whether done advocacy, awareness or ineligible reform, I privation to guarantee that my father's communicative is not forgotten, and to anyone other who has endured a akin symptom — you are not alone," said Solomon.