Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in White Rock stabbing: IHIT

A man has been charged in thestabbing death of Kulwinder Singh Sohi in White Rock, B.C., last week.

Dimitri Nelson Hyacinth, 27, is charged with second-degree murder in the 26-year-old's death on April 23, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a Friday news release.

Hyacinth was arrested on Monday and is also facing aggravated assault charges in relation to thenon-fatal stabbing of another man nearthe pier on April 21, police said previously.

Court records show Hyacinthis set to appear in court on May 23in Surrey for both charges. There is a publication ban on information arising from Hyacinth's bail hearing and other pre-trial motions.

Thetwo incidents occurred along the White Rock promenade, a popular tourist attraction, sparking a manhunt and widespread concerns in thecommunity.

Both attacks were onyoung South Asian men. Kulwinder Singh Sohi was fatally stabbed last Tuesday, while Jatinder Singh was left with non-life-threatening injuries after astabbing two days earlier.

"These events have had a significant impact on a community," IHIT Sgt.Timothy Pierottisaid in a statement Friday. "I hope that today's announcement provides a further sense of relief to those who frequent the White Rock promenade."

WATCH | Anger, fear in White Rock following stabbings:

White Rock town hall over public safety erupts in frustration

1 month ago

Duration 2:03

Tensions soared at a public meeting in White Rock following two stabbings on the citys promenade last week. Investigators say a Surrey man has been charged with aggravated assault in relation to one of the stabbings. At the meeting, RCMP faced questions about public safety.

The incidents sparked fear in the community, and pressure fromSohi'sfamily and friends for police to apprehend a suspect.

On Sunday, Sohi's brother, Gurleen Sohi, criticized police for not increasing patrols in the area after the first attack.

Sohi's friend and former roommateGagan Singh, who knew the 26-year-old from before he immigrated to Canada around 2018, said that his friend was a plumber who recently obtained his Red Seal certification.

"I'm in shock, because I just spoke to him [Tuesday] afternoon, and he was very happy," Singh said. "To me, it's just like I'm living in a dream and I can't imagine that he's not here."

Sohi was described as a personable, socially active and easygoing man by his friend, who said he had never seen the Surrey man argue with anyone.

"He's a very young guy, very talented, very skilled and he's not with us anymore. That's very tragic and shocking," Singh said.

Jatinder Singh, 28, sufferednon-life-threatening injuries in the April 21 stabbing, but has been left with stitches thatmake it difficult for him to work at the mill where he is employed.

His wife, Manpreet Kaur, says that incident is causing them to re-evaluate their recent entry to B.C., as she is a student and the couple now faces trouble making ends meet. They only arrived in Canada on Feb. 28.

"It's a very bad welcome to Canada.... There's no security, nothing in Canada," she told CBC News.

The couple, said they have little capacity to pay anymedical bills that arise, with Kaur saying they are considering areturnto India.