Vancouver, British Columbia – Six years have passed since the tragic death of 15-year-old Alfred Wong, who was fatally struck by a stray bullet while riding in his parents’ car on a bustling Vancouver street. Now, the man accused of firing the fatal shot, Kane Carter, is facing trial for the two counts of second-degree murder related to Wong’s death and another man in the same incident.
During the trial, Crown prosecutor Don Montrichard detailed how Wong, a Coquitlam teenager, was innocently caught in gang-related crossfire as he and his parents were driving along Broadway at Ontario Street. The single bullet that struck Wong penetrated his chest, causing severe internal injuries that led to his swift loss of consciousness before his tragic passing two days later.
Despite the delay in charges, the prosecution presented dash camera footage capturing the heartbreaking moment when Wong cried out and collapsed, offering the jury a glimpse into the chaos of that fateful day. Carter, now 28 years old, entered the courtroom using a walker, as Justice Catherine Wedge cautioned the jury against unconscious biases regarding the accused’s race.
In addition to the murder charges related to Wong’s death, Carter has also pleaded not guilty to murdering Kevin Whiteside, who authorities believe was targeting a rival gang member in Vancouver at the time of his fatal shooting. The trial’s outcome hinges on the prosecution’s ability to establish the shooter’s identity, with nearly 50 witnesses expected to testify alongside video and photo evidence – despite the lack of a recovered murder weapon or direct witnesses to the shooting.
As the trial progresses, the jury will navigate through circumstantial evidence and testimonies to determine Carter’s involvement in the tragic events of that day in January 2018. The prosecution aims to provide a comprehensive case without delving into specific motives behind the shootings, targeting a late-November conclusion for the trial proceedings. With so much at stake, the trial’s outcome will serve as a crucial moment for justice in a case marked by senseless violence and loss.