A Surrey man is expected to plead not guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in Vancouver's Chinatown.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said Nikolai Sugak, 32, was found gravely injured near West Pender and Carrall Streets shortly after midnight on Feb. 6.
Despite receiving emergency medical attention, Sugak died shortly after he was found.
Police believe Sugak was stabbed by a stranger in nearby Shanghai Alley before collapsing into the street. The death led to a five-week investigation.
The B.C. Prosecution Service approved one count of second-degree murder against Jaal Routh Kueth, 30.
He was due before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Laura Bakan on May 8 for arraignment on the charges.
However, defence lawyer Tony Lagemaat told Bakan he had spoken with Crown prosecutor Jenny Dick and is hoping to move forward toward setting trial dates.
A guilty plea would not necessitate setting trial dates.
Kueth first appeared on the charge in Vancouver Provincial Court on March 17 before Judge Jennifer Oulton who ordered him detained "due to the nature of the charge." She said any bail order would be dealt with in B.C. Supreme Court.
VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said the violent offence caused significant concern about crime and public safety in the neighbourhood.
Police found no evidence the two knew each other, which made the crime more troubling for area residents.
"We believe they were strangers," Visintin said at the time.
