A man charged with two counts of murder in connection with a 2020 Vancouver double homicide will have a preliminary hearing starting Jan. 18.
Joseph Holland of Vancouver, was arrested the night of July 8 in Harrison Hot Springs by the RCMP’s Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, with help from Chilliwack and Agassiz RCMP and the VPD’s Emergency Response Team.
The victims were identified as Dennis Wragg, 72, and Paul Tonks, 68, both of Vancouver.
Police received a 911 call just before 12:30 a.m. July 8, 2020 about two men shot inside a residence near Commercial Drive and East 11th Avenue. Paramedics were on-scene with Vancouver police and confirmed that both were dead..
It is unknown how many witnesses will appear although one will appear by video due to age anxiety, and will require an interpreter.
Asked by Judge Kathryn Denhoff if he wished to appear at the preliminary via video, Holland said, “Yes, yes.”
A charge of attempted murder with a firearm also appears on Holland’s Jan. 7 court docket entry.
The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine if enough evidence exists for the case to proceed to trial.
A publication ban covers such hearings so as not to taint a future trial jury.
