A man convicted for his role in a gang-land slaying in Burnaby nearly 20 years ago could be eligible for parole sooner than his original sentence.
Simon Kwok Cheng Chow was convicted by a jury in 2001 of first degree murder of Vikash Chand, and sentenced to life in prison without the eligibility of parole for 25 years.
Chow has applied to the court to have his parole eligibility reduced to 15 years on the basis of “personal growth and insights” arising from his time in prison, his conduct while serving his sentence and that he’s maintained his innocence throughout his trial and sentence.
In his decision, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Greyell wrote there is a substantial likelihood of success that a jury would reduce or terminate altogether Chow’s parole eligibility, and urged a jury to hear the application as soon as possible.
Chand was killed on Oct. 7,1998 while changing a licence plate on Chow’s car in a murder-for-hire scheme. Four men were charged after Shane Shoemaker shot Chand several times at Rags to Riches, a Burnaby used-car lot, around 2 p.m.
Shoemaker then ran east on Second Avenue, where he was picked up by Haddi Binahmad, the getaway driver, who got immunity from prosecution in exchange for giving evidence.
The car lot, on Boundary Road and Second Avenue, was owned by Sameer Mapara, another of the co-accused.
According to Binahmad, Mapara hired George Wasfi to kill Chand. Wasfi in turn hired Binahmad and then Shoemaker to carry out the killing for $40,000. Wasfi arranged for Chow to pay Binahmad $7,000 as part of a down payment for the contract of $10,000. Binahmad gave the $7,000 he received from Chow to Shoemaker, who immediately went on a spending spree. At Wasfi’s further request Chow gave Binahmad another $2,000 after the killing so that he could get out of town.
Wasfi, Shoemaker, Mapara and Chow went to trial in the fall of 2000, but Wasfi's court proceedings were separated from those of the other three, who were later found guilty.
Wafsi was convicted separately, while Chow appealed his conviction but lost.
Court documents note Chow is now 51 years old and is married with an 18-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter. He has seen his wife and children periodically since his incarceration and seeks to reunite with his family.
As part of the evidence relating to his character, Chow has progressed from maximum security institutions to a minimum security institution where he is presently.
Documents state Chow has taken numerous correctional programs relating to personal growth, social interaction and violence prevention. He has performed well in these programs and is working toward his bachelor of science degree.
He also maintained he has avoided gang connections and the institutional drug culture while incarcerated except for one instance in 2007.
The Crown opposed Chow’s application on the basis that his character has not changed during the course of his incarceration sufficient to allow his application to go in front of a jury.
Crown also argued that he is unrepentant and maintains his innocence that he was involved in the murder.
