Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

David Eby supports police who secretly took DNA from Kurds to solve B.C. murder

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Jan, 2024 02:03 PM
  • David Eby supports police who secretly took DNA from Kurds to solve B.C. murder

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he supports police who secretly collected DNA from members of the Kurdish community to solve the murder of a 13-year-old girl, saying he "really struggles" with the idea that they should not have done so.

Eby says the victim's rights were "profoundly and unalterably violated" by her killer, and police actions made the community safe from a predator.

His remarks come after The Canadian Press revealed that police posed as tea marketers to collect DNA from about 150 Kurdish community members without their permission at a 2018 festival.

The operation ultimately led to the arrest of Ibrahim Ali, who was convicted last month of first-degree murder for the 2017 killing of the girl, who can't be named because of a publication ban.

Police had previously determined that whoever left the DNA on the victim's body was likely of Kurdish ethnicity, leading to the targeting of the festival where a brother of Ali unwittingly provided a sample that gave police their breakthrough.

Eby told an unrelated news conference on Monday that many British Columbians “recoiled in horror” at the murder in Burnaby that "shattered" parents' sense of safety in the province.

"The police went out, identified the suspect, arrested him and he was successfully prosecuted," said Eby.

"To now, after the trial is complete, after these issues have all been considered, to be going back to say to the police (that) they should not have done what they did? I really struggle with that analysis," he said.

MORE National ARTICLES

'Atmospheric river' set to hit Metro Vancouver, southern coast of British Columbia

'Atmospheric river' set to hit Metro Vancouver, southern coast of British Columbia
Environment Canada is also warning drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish to Whistler to exercise caution due to heavy rains raising the risk of flooding and landslides along the route. The rainfall warning says an atmospheric river is set to make landfall on the province's southern coast today, bringing as much as 150 millimetres of rain to Western Vancouver Island.  

'Atmospheric river' set to hit Metro Vancouver, southern coast of British Columbia

Large pro-Israel rally planned for Parliament Hill on Monday

Large pro-Israel rally planned for Parliament Hill on Monday
Prominent Jewish groups are set to host a rally on Parliament Hill Monday afternoon in solidarity with Israel. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says the event is meant to be a show of collective strength in the face of what it calls staggering antisemitism. 

Large pro-Israel rally planned for Parliament Hill on Monday

Canadian confirmed dead in Lebanon

Canadian confirmed dead in Lebanon
A Canadian citizen has been confirmed dead in Lebanon, the eighth since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In an update Sunday evening, Global Affairs Canada provided no further details but did confirm that 130 more Canadians left Gaza this weekend after the Rafah border crossing reopened to foreign nationals.

Canadian confirmed dead in Lebanon

Avian flu at Chilliwack poultry farm

Avian flu at Chilliwack poultry farm
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has detected the presence of Avian influenza at a Chilliwack commercial poultry operation. It is now the 50th B-C location where the contagious viral infection has been detected at commercial or backyard bird operations since October.

Avian flu at Chilliwack poultry farm

Man with ties to Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax killed in Calgary drive-by shooting

Man with ties to Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax killed in Calgary drive-by shooting
Police say a man with ties to Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax has been killed in a drive-by shooting in Calgary. Officers responded to reports of gunshots in the Beltline neighbourhood, south of downtown, just after 9 p.m. Thursday. Police say they found the 40-year-old man with apparent gunshot wounds.

Man with ties to Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax killed in Calgary drive-by shooting

RCMP issue warning about deadly toxic drugs circulating in Surrey

RCMP issue warning about deadly toxic drugs circulating in Surrey
RCMP have issued a warning about high-potency drugs circulating in Surrey, B.C., saying police have responded to five suspected overdose deaths in seven days. The statement says Mounties in the city east of Vancouver are aware of a mixture of the powerful opioid fentanyl and benzodiazepines, a class of depressant drugs. 

RCMP issue warning about deadly toxic drugs circulating in Surrey