Charges against two people accused in Luka Gordic’s stabbing death upgraded to second-degree murder

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – More serious charges have been laid against two people accused in the stabbing death of a teen in Whistler over the May long weekend.

After taking another look over the evidence, Crown Counsel upgraded the charges from manslaughter to second-degree murder.

Arvin Golic is the only adult of the four accused. Neil MacKenzie with the Crown explains what this upgraded charge could mean for Golic:

“An adult facing charges of murder… faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. With a charge of second-degree, the minimum parole eligibility is a period of 10 years… whereas the maximum sentence that may be imposed in a manslaughter case is life in prison,” he explains.

A youth sentenced as an adult for second-degree murder isn’t eligible for parole for seven years.

The other three accused are youths and cannot be named.

MacKenzie points out sentencing for a youth can be more complicated

If a youth is sentenced as an adult for second-degree murder, they also face a mandatory life sentence, but the parole ineligibility period is only seven years. If sentenced as a youth for the same crime, the maximum sentence is seven years — a maximum of four of which is spent in custody, with the rest served under supervision in the community.

Luka Gordic was in Whistler in May, when he was swarmed and stabbed several times after becoming separated from his group of friends.

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