Vancouver man accused of killing his wife now charged with cold-case murder in Burnaby (with video)

JENNIFER SALTMAN
VANCOUVER DESI

A Vancouver man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with an almost 19-year-old homicide in Burnaby.

The charge was laid against Jaswant Singh Gill, 40, on Thursday.

Thomas Eldon Akerman, 26, was shot several times as he sat inside his grey Ford Bronco outside the Bonsor Recreation Complex on the afternoon of Dec. 23, 1994. Police said at the time that Akerman was shot in the head and the shooting was targeted. Money was found on the ground next to Akerman’s vehicle.

A suspect was identified at the time, but investigators needed more evidence before a charge could be laid.

Five weeks ago, Vancouver police received “windfall evidence” that related to the Burnaby investigation. The two departments worked together to develop the evidence.

On Thursday, Cpl. Sharon Toor of the Burnaby RCMP unsolved homicide unit said Akerman and Gill knew each other, but would not say how. Akerman “did have some involvement with police previously” while Gill was not known to police prior to 1994.

Toor said she personally spoke to Akerman’s father and sister about the charge being laid.

“It’s great relief to them that after 19 years that someone is being held responsible and charged in the death of their loved one, their family member,” she said.

A Vancouver Police handout photo of 33-year-old Gurpreet Gill, who is suspected of being killed by her husband Jaswant Singh Gill. Jaswant Gill was charged March 21, 2013 in the death of Thomas Eldon Akerman in Burnaby 19 years ago. PNG files

It’s the second time in just over a month that Gill’s been charged with murder.

In mid-February Gill was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the homicide of his wife, 33-year-old Gurpreet Gill. The couple had been married for six years.

Gurpreet Gill’s relatives reported her missing in 2006 after not hearing from her for a long time.

Her case remained unsolved until early February, when police matched DNA from her family members to human remains found in Richmond in 2006. When the charge was announced, Vancouver police did not specify dates for when Gurpreet Gill was reported missing or the remains were found, however on June 5, 2006 Richmond RCMP reported that a body had been found a wooded area southwest of Alderbridge Way and Shell Road, on Crown land belonging to the defence department.

Gill has been in custody since Feb. 16. His next court appearance on both homicides is March 25.

jensaltman@theprovince.com
twitter.com/jensaltman

Tags: Burnaby, first-degree murder charges, Gurpreet Gill, homicide, Jaswant Singh Gill, Thomas Eldon Akerman