English
A British Columbia court has rejected Cody Haevischer’s bid to overturn his convictions in the Surrey Six murders. Justice Martha Devlin dismissed his application Thursday.
The ruling keeps Haevischer’s six first-degree murder convictions in place. It also brings relief to the family of Christopher Mohan, one of two innocent victims.
Haevischer belonged to the Red Scorpions gang when six men died in Surrey in 2007. The murders became one of British Columbia’s most notorious gang-related killings.
Surrey Six Murders Shocked British Columbia
Six men died after gunmen shot them inside Balmoral Tower in Surrey in October 2007. Investigators linked the killings to a gang conflict.
However, two victims had no connection to that conflict. Ed Schellenberg and Christopher Mohan were innocent bystanders caught in the violence.
Haevischer received six first-degree murder convictions in 2014. Fellow Red Scorpions member Matthew Johnston also faced convictions for his role.
Johnston died in 2022. Haevischer remains imprisoned while continuing his legal challenge.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Court Rejects Haevischer’s Legal Claims
Haevischer and Johnston previously sought a stay of proceedings. They argued that police misconduct and harsh custody conditions violated their rights.
The case later returned to court after the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new evidentiary hearing in 2023.
The hearing examined evidence from 39 witnesses and 209 exhibits. Justice Devlin reviewed the evidence before issuing her decision Thursday.
Devlin acknowledged that some aspects of Haevischer’s solitary confinement violated his Charter rights. However, she found that legitimate safety concerns led authorities to impose those conditions.
The judge rejected most of Haevischer’s broader allegations. She concluded that “the vast majority” of his claims lacked merit.
Devlin also rejected a stay of proceedings. She said another outcome would not protect the integrity of the justice system.
Christopher Mohan’s Mother Welcomes Ruling
Christopher Mohan’s mother, Eileen Mohan, attended Thursday’s hearing. She cried after the court rejected Haevischer’s application.
However, Mohan described her tears as relief rather than grief. She said the ruling restored her confidence in the justice system.
“These are tears of happiness and confidence in the law,” Mohan said. She added that the courts had respected Christopher and the other victims.
Mohan also criticized the lengthy legal challenges. She argued that taxpayers funded repeated attempts to overturn the convictions.
“The people who took my son’s life have used the taxpayers’ dollars,” she said.
She described Thursday’s decision as a moment of peace after years of legal proceedings.
“You just can’t walk to the doorstep of my home, steal my innocent son’s life and expect to walk free,” Mohan said.
Six Life Sentences Remain
Justice Devlin confirmed Haevischer’s six concurrent life sentences. She noted that he “extinguished the lives of six defenceless men.”
The ruling preserves the convictions that Haevischer received in 2014. It also closes another major chapter in the lengthy Surrey Six legal proceedings.
For the victims’ families, the decision provides another measure of finality. Meanwhile, Haevischer’s convictions and life sentences remain in effect.
The Surrey Six murders continue to rank among British Columbia’s most significant gang-related criminal cases. Thursday’s ruling further reinforces the convictions following years of legal challenges.
