Defence raises doubts about evidence in Whistler murders

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsCrimeLocal News Defence raises doubts about evidence in Whistler murders Defence lawyer Tony Paisana said that just because one of the victim's DNA was on clothing worn by his client doesn't mean he is guilty. Author of the article: By Kim Bolan Published Sep 24, 2026 3 minute read Join the conversation Scene of fatal Whistler shooting on July 24, 2022 PHOTO BY SUBMITTED PHOTO Article content Two men charged after a double Whistler shooting four years ago could have swapped clothes with the shooters and should therefore be acquitted, a defence lawyer said Thursday. Article content Tony Paisana, representing accused killer Tanvir Khakh, told jurors and B.C. Supreme Court Justice Miriam Gropper that just because one of the victim’s DNA was on clothing worn by his client upon his arrest doesn’t mean he is guilty. Article content Article content Article content He said Khakh could have been trying to contaminate any DNA on the clothes after another shooter wore them. Article content Sunrise Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Both Khakh and co-accused Gursimran Sahota are charged with the first-degree murder of Meninder Dhaliwal outside Whistler’s Sundial Hotel on July 24, 2022. And Sahota is charged with the second-degree murder of Satindera Gill, who also died after being struck twice in the same shooting. Article content Paisana pointed to the fact his client had originally been charged with a second count of first-degree murder in Gill’s death, but was acquitted on that charge Wednesday when a new indictment was filed in the case. Article content “The Crown originally told you and alleged that Mr. Khakh planned and deliberated to kill Mr. Gill…that allegation proved baseless,” Paisana said. Article content Crown prosecutor Don Montrichard said in his closing Wednesday that CCTV footage from the Sundial Hotel showed masked gunmen loitering around the building before opening fire on Dhaliwal and Gill at 12:18 p.m. He pointed to details on the clothing which matched that worn by Khakh and Sahota when they were arrested less than an hour later in Squamish in a black Chrysler 200 with three others. Article content Article content The brother…