Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / Gary Donald Johnston, a convicted B.C. murderer, died in custody this past Sunday, March 5 at Mountain Institution west of Agassiz, Correctional Service of Canada indicated in a news release on Tuesday. Johnston stabbed Victor Fraser to death in 1998 at a home in north Surrey.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Convicted B.C. killer dies

Convicted B.C. killer dies in custody at Mountain Institution in Agassiz

Mar 9, 2023 | 6:19 AM

AGASSIZ — A B.C. man convicted of both manslaughter and second-degree murder has died at Mountain Institution, a medium-security prison west of Agassiz.

The Correctional Service of Canada confirmed Tuesday (Mar. 7) that Gary Donald Johnston died in prison this past Sunday.

At the time of his death, Johnston had been serving an indeterminate sentence that began on November 3, 2011 for second-degree murder. His family has been notified, correctional staff said.

As with all cases involving the death of an inmate, Correctional Service of Canada says it will review the circumstances and has notified police and the coroner.

According to published reports, Johnston had broken into a home in Surrey on March 10, 1998 when Victor Fraser, a crane operator from New Westminster, surprised him. Johnston stabbed Fraser to death with such force that he broke two knife blades during the murderous attack. Fraser died of stab wounds to his neck.

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Johnston was convicted by Justice Crawford of the Supreme Court of British Columbia of the second-degree murder of Victor Fraser.

The Crown’s case involved statements made by Mr. Johnston to undercover police officers engaged in what is known as a “Mr. Big” operation. That operation involved 60 “scenarios”, i.e., occasions on which undercover officers and Mr. Johnston interacted. In the last scenario—commonly referred to as the “Mr. Big interview”— Johnston admitted killing Victor Fraser. At the trial, Mr. Johnston did not object to the admissibility of any of the statements he made during the Mr. Big operation.

Prior to being prosecuted for the murder of Victor Fraser, Johnston pleaded guilty in 2000 to manslaughter in an unrelated case in Saskatchewan, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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Convicted B.C. killer dies in custody at Mountain Institution in Agassiz

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