Surrey mechanic\u2019s teen killers appeal life sentence<\/p>\n
Published 9:50 am Tuesday, March 24, 2026<\/p>\n
Warning: this story contains graphic details that some readers may find disturbing.<\/p>\n
A pair of teens sentenced 3.5 years ago to life in prison for the August 2019 killing of Delphin Paul Prestbakmo in South Surrey are to be in Vancouver court this week to appeal the penalty.<\/p>\n
Officials with the B.C. Prosecution Service confirmed Monday (March 23) that the two, who are now adults \u2013 but whose identities remain protected under a publication ban for the time-being, due to their ages at the time of the offence \u2013 are scheduled for a hearing in the B.C. Court of Appeal on Friday (March 27) morning.<\/p>\n
They were convicted of second-degree murder \u2013 following a trial \u2013 on May 18, 2021, in connection with Prestbakmo\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old First Nations man, well-known and liked in the White Rock-South Surrey community, died in a parking lot at 18 Avenue and 152 Street just before 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 16, 2019.<\/p>\n
Evidence during the trial revealed that Prestbakmo had been stabbed 42 times over the course of 26 seconds, shortly after he had stepped out of his residence to take out some garbage and have a cigarette.<\/p>\n
The court heard that the convicted youths had been uninvited guests to a nearby house party, and their apparently chance encounter with Prestbakmo in the parking lot happened during a second period in which they had roamed the streets during the early hours of that morning.<\/p>\n
In his 2021 verdict, Judge Robert Hamilton said the large number of wounds inflicted on Prestbakmo during the altercation, along with other factors \u2013 including that the teens had left the house party armed with knives \u2013 showed they had set out with \u201ca lethal intent to kill.\u201d<\/p>\n