A Quebec man charged with first-degree murder in a Vancouver shooting death has pleaded not guilty and elected trial by B.C. Supreme Court judge and jury.
Terry Bachtis, 43, was shot in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and died before he could be taken to hospital.
Felix Emond Moro, 28, is charged in the Aug. 29 death in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and appeared before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Patricia Stark on Oct. 24.
Defence lawyer Sandra Mandanici told Stark of her client's trial choice.
Vancouver Police Department officers were called to East Cordova and Carrall streets early on Aug. 29 where they found Bachtis.
Despite attempts by first responders to save his life, the victim died before he could be taken to hospital.
The investigation lead to the Oct. 9 arrest of Moro. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder.
Mandanici has applied for a bilingual trial for her client.
Moro stood quietly in the prisoner’s dock as proceedings were translated.
Mandanici has requested a preliminary hearing in the case. Such hearings are held to determine if sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. They are covered by a publication ban so as not to taint potential jurors with information about cases.
The case will require a French-speaking prosecutor, the court heard.
Moro remains in custody. He returns to court Oct. 31.
