Exactly two years after the alleged murder of a UBC Okanagan security guard, the accused, Dante Ognibene-Hebbourn, has elected to proceed to trial by judge alone.
On Feb. 26, at what was scheduled to be a voir dire hearing, Ognibene-Hebbourn told the court that he wanted to be tried by judge alone, not by judge and jury鈥搘hich is the standard procedure for murder trials.
Voir-dires can be thought of as mini-trials held either before or in the midst of court proceedings to determine the admissibility of certain pieces of evidence. Voir dires are always held without jurors present. In cases that will be tried by judge and jury, the information presented at the voir dire is restricted under a publication ban and cannot be reported on to ensure the jury does not base their decisions on potentially inadmissible evidence.
If an accused elects for a trial by judge alone, as Ognibene-Hebbourn did, the evidence presented at the voir dire is able to be published.
The voir-dire held on Feb. 26, was to determine whether an alleged admission of guilt was voluntary and if it could be entered as evidence. Since Ognibene-Hebbourn has elected for trial by judge alone, the evidence presented at the voir dire is able to be published.
Ognibene-Hebbourn allegedly confessed to killing a UBCO security guard named Harmandeep Kaur on Feb. 26, 2022, after being arrested by RCMP.
According to Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service, Justice Mayer ruled that the statements are admissible and can be used in the trial.
Ognibene-Hebbourn is facing charges of second-degree murder after allegedly attacking and killing Kaur. The accused was working the night shift as a janitor on campus when he allegedly attacked Kaur in the early hours of the morning.
The 24-year-old female was pronounced dead shortly after the incident.
Immediately after the incident, Ognibene-Hebbourn was detained under the Mental Health Act at the 麻豆精选 General Hospital.
On April 5, Ognibene-Hebbourn was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Ognibene-Hebbourn has undergone several psychiatric evaluations. The assessments, conducted by psychiatrists, are used to determine fitness to stand trial and to criminal responsibility in relation to potential mental illness.
READ MORE: Man charged in death of UBCO security guard undergoes psychiatric evaluation
Kaur had moved from India to Canada in search of higher education 鈥渢o progress her life,鈥� said Kuljit Pabla a family member of Kaur鈥檚 who resides in West 麻豆精选.
Pabla spoke to Capital News back in 2022 and said that Kaur made the decision to move to Canada after extensive discussions with her family in pursuit of a better future. Pabla explained that her family chose Canada because they consider Canada a safe place.
READ MORE: UBCO homicide victim new resident to Canada
鈥淯sually it is,鈥� said Pabla.
Kaur had been granted her permanent residency just three weeks prior to the attack.
Kaur had been working for Paladin security as an officer at UBCO, hoping to one day attend school there, said Pabla.
鈥淗er goal was to continue (her) education as she saved up money, with support from the family,鈥� he said.
She would tell Pabla and his wife 鈥淚 want to be like them,鈥� when she saw the kids studying at the university while she worked security. 鈥淪he wanted to be there as a student,鈥� said Pabla.
The next appearance is on March 18, to set a new trial date.
READ MORE: Vigil held at UBCO for homicide victim
