Public Safety Minister Garry Begg – in Surrey for an announcement about a special investigations program targeting repeat violent offenders – had nothing to say to the family of a Surrey woman who was murdered in her home last June by a repeat violent offender.
Tori Dunn, 30, was found with life-threatening injuries in her home in Begg's riding in Port Kells on June 16, 2024. She later died in hospital.
Adam Mann was charged with second-degree murder on June 28, 2024 connected to Tori's death. He is currently in court on three unrelated charges, not including the murder. None of these charges have been proven in court, and a publication ban currently covers the details of these charges.
At the time of Tori's murder, Mann was out on bail in connection with one of the unrelated charges. Mann has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions in B.C., Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario.
Begg has not spoken to the Dunn family. Several other politicians, including Premier David Eby, MLA Elenore Sturko, and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, have spoken to Tori's father, Aron Dunn, and other members of the Dunn family over the past year. An investigator from the IHIT team also reached out to Tori's father, Aron Dunn, on the anniversary of Tori's death.
At a press conference outside of King George SkyTrain station in Surrey, Begg had announced that the province would be boosting funding for a special investigations program targeting repeat violent offenders.
When asked if he had anything to say to the Dunn family, he said, "I can't speak specifically to the Dunn family, but I can speak to all citizens of British Columbia that our government is ensuring as best we can that people should feel safe in their community, walking the streets wherever they are, that is a responsibility of the police in this province," he said.
Tori's father, Aron Dunn, told the Surrey Now-Leader that Begg's response disheartened him.
"It sounds like he doesn't even know who we are," Aron said.
Begg also did not specify, when asked, how this program would help ensure that what happened to the Dunn family never happens again.
"You're talking specifically about the ReVOII program, which is the repeat violent offender program. We also have programs in place that monitor people who have been in conflict with the law, and it's been very successful. I can't speak specifically about the Surrey case, but I mentioned earlier some of the stats from Vancouver city, which, again, are a result of this kind of activity," Begg said.
The Vancouver Police Department credits Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement Program (SITE) funded initiatives for a 27-per-cent drop in violent crime in Hastings Crossing and a 45-per-cent drop in weapons-related assaults in Gastown from October 2024 to January 2025.
The ReVOII program is supported by SITE.
-With files from Mark Page
