A murder charge has put the brakes on Vancouver proceedings on other criminal charges the accused man faces.
Jason Patrick Hnatyshyn, 47, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of another man in Vancouver’s Crab Park earlier this year.
The Vancouver Police Department said Brett Michael MacDonald, 51, was found deceased by a passerby on the Downtown Eastside waterfront park’s northwest side along the gravel path just before 8:30 a.m. on March 22.
“Investigators believe the homicide was targeted,” police said.
Hnatyshyn’s next court appearance was due to be June 26.
However, he appeared before Judge Nicholas Preovolos June 23 on 11 firearm charges as well as one count of fleeing police and two of breaching release orders.
Defence lawyer Gloria Ng told the court she needs time to organize the case and discuss issues with Hnatyshyn.
The court docket showed Hnatyshyn had pleaded guilty to four firearm charges, cases that had been adjourned to July 4 for sentencing. That date has now been struck from the court calendar.
The case now goes to July 31 for a next appearance.
