Youths charged with second-degree murder in stabbing death of Surrey mechanic

Two teens have been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the stabbing death of Surrey mechanic Delphin Paul Prestbakmo.

Prestbakmo, known as Pauly, was fatally stabbed in a parking lot near Semiahmoo Shopping Centre in Surrey, B.C., just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 16. He died before RCMP made it to the scene.

The teenaged boys, aged 15 and 16, cannot be named due to their age, RCMP said.

RCMP say the attack was unprovoked but say the three knew each other to some degree.

The two teens have been in custody since late August for breaching court-imposed conditions on a separate matter, said Sgt. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigations Team (IHIT).

"It's troubling news," said Sgt. Jang, "It's very shocking."

He says motive for the attack is still under investigation.

A 'senseless' death

When asked about his death, Prestbakmo's sister called it senseless, adding her brother didn't deserve what happened to him.

"You ask anyone in this community, he was loved and respected. He was a good person and had a good heart," said Angela Prestbakmo.

She says knowing two people have been charged in relation to her brother's death doesn't make the situation any better.

"Nobody can understand how somebody like that could be targetted," said Don Armour who worked with Pretsbakmo for eight years. "He was everybody's friend."

Ilham Ali, a friend of Delphin Paul Prestbakmo for 20 years, says Prestbakmo was more like a brother. Ali says Pretsbakmo was 14-years-old when he started working as a mechanic.

"Always we know him as a nice guy, excellent guy, always helps people out, and everybody liked him," Ali added.