The alleged “orchestrator” of a series of arsons and shootings involving students and staff at the Justice Institute of B.C. four years ago was sentenced to 13.5 years in jail today.
Langley resident Vincent Eric Gia-Hwa Cheung was facing 23 charges including 11 counts of arson on a house; five counts of arson on a vehicle; two counts of arson on property within a residence; one count of arson on a trailer and four shooting charges. Last week he pleaded guilty to 18 of the 23 charges.
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The attacks, which included houses, cars, and trailers set on fire, along with homes and vehicles shot at, started April 2011 and carried on until January 2012. Fifteen victims with connections to the Justice Institute of B.C. were targeted.
Crown Counsel Joe Bellows said in court that the homes were occupied at the time of the shootings and it was “only dumb luck that no one was killed.”
Thurman Ronley Taffe, 54, was also charged with one count of arson and is set to appear in B.C. Supreme Court on August 22 for his sentencing.
The extensive investigation spanned four years and many jurisdictions across B.C., involving hundreds of police officers from several police agencies.
At the time of the arrests, police said their investigation was complicated by the efforts of the accused to disguise their intent through cunning and misdirection.
The motive of the crimes remains unknown, but police said the victims were all innocent. Many were at home when the arsons or shootings took place and still feel the emotional impact of these crimes.
Crown Counsel had asked for 10 to 15 years in prison for the 40-year-old Cheung.
~with files from Yuliya Talmazan