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B.C. Starbucks fatal stabbing case moving toward trial

Paul Stanley Schmidt's death was witnessed by dozens of people.
themis-july-2023
B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.

The case of B.C. man accused of murdering a father at a downtown Vancouver Starbucks in March 2023 is proceeding toward trial.

Inderdeep Singh Gosal, 32, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Paul Stanley Schmidt, 37.

While Gosal was sick and could not attend a B.C. Supreme Court hearing June 12, Crown prosecutor Daniel Mulligan told Justice Kathleen Ker lawyer discussions about admission in the case and an estimation of a trial length are underway.

Gosal was denied bail March 27 and remains in custody at North Fraser Pretrial Centre. He appeared by video.

Schmidt’s death was witnessed by dozens of people. A video of it went viral online.

On March 26, 2023 around 5:40 p.m., two men were involved in an altercation outside the Starbucks at West Pender and Granville streets when one of the men was stabbed, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

A bystander immediately flagged a police officer who was able to arrest a suspect at the scene.

More officers soon arrived and provided first aid to the victim, but he later died in hospital.

Investigators had been trying to determine a motive for the stabbing, having previously said they did not believe the victim and suspect knew each other.

The death was the city's sixth homicide of 2023.