Life sentences of teen killers in Surrey mechanic’s death overturned - BC | Globalnews.ca SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT Global News Home Subscribe Site theme toggle. Switch between light or dark mode Light Dark Live Search Site theme toggle. Switch between light or dark mode Light Dark GlobalNews home Watch World Canada Local Politics Money Health Entertainment Lifestyle Perspectives Sports Shopping Commentary Contests Podcasts U.S. News Life sentences of teen killers in Surrey mechanic’s death overturned Click to return to homepage Leave a comment Share this item on Facebook Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on X Send this page to someone via email See more sharing options Full Menu Search Menu Home Trending Watch Local Menu Menu Close Submit Search Topics Watch World Canada Local Change location Politics Money Health Entertainment Lifestyle Perspectives Sports Shopping Commentary Contests Podcasts U.S. News TV Programs Global National West Block The Morning Show Video Centre More… Connect Email alerts Alexa Breaking News Alerts from Global News License Content Contact Us National Change Close Change Close Barrie BC Calgary Durham Edmonton Guelph Halifax Hamilton Kingston Kitchener Lethbridge London Montreal New Brunswick Okanagan Ottawa Peterborough Regina Saskatoon Toronto Winnipeg Global News Facebook Pages Global News Twitter Accounts Global News Youtube Channel Global News on Instagram Global News on LinkedIn Global News on TikTok Global News on Telegram Global News on BlueSky Go Back Close Local your local region National Barrie BC Calgary Durham Edmonton Guelph Halifax Hamilton Kingston Kitchener Lethbridge London Montreal New Brunswick Okanagan Ottawa Peterborough Regina Saskatoon Toronto Winnipeg Share Close Share this item on Facebook facebook Share this item on X x Send this page to someone via email email Share this item via WhatsApp whatsapp Share this item via Telegram telegram Share this item on Reddit reddit Share this item on BlueSky bluesky Copy article link Copy link Calendar Close Calendar Close All event types Comedy Festival Food Health Music Sports Theatre Virtual Other Search Close Submit search Quick Search             Trending Now                         Add Global News to Home Screen Close Instructions: Press the share icon on your browser Select Add to Home Screen Press Add Comments Close comments menu Comments closed. Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time. Please see our Commenting Policy for more. Video link Headline link Advertisement Close X Click to scroll back to top of the page Back to top Crime Life sentences of teen killers in Surrey mechanic’s death overturned By Amy Judd Global News Posted March 30, 2026 10:10 pm 1 min read If you get Global News from Instagram or Facebook - that will be changing. Find out how you can still connect with us . Hide message bar 2:17 Life sentences of teen killers overturned Family members of a well-known Surrey mechanic who was stabbed to death in 2019 are outraged. As Rumina Daya reports, the life sentences of two teens convicted of his murder have been overturned – Mar 30, 2026 Leave a comment Share this item on Facebook Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on X Send this page to someone via email See more sharing options Share Close Share this item on Facebook facebook Share this item on X x Send this page to someone via email email Share this item via WhatsApp whatsapp Share this item via Telegram telegram Share this item on Reddit reddit Share this item on BlueSky bluesky Copy article link Copy link Descrease article font size Increase article font size The life sentences of two teens convicted in the murder of a well-known Surrey mechanic have been overturned. Paul Prestbakmo was stabbed to death near Semiahmoo Centre on Aug. 16, 2019. The well-known mechanic was on his way to McDonald’s to grab a pop when he was stabbed. He was stabbed 42 times in 26 seconds. The teens, who were 15 and 16 at the time, were found guilty of second-degree murder. They were later sentenced as adults and given life sentences with no chance of parole for at least seven years. 2:15 IHIT investigating fatal stabbing outside Surrey mall However, on Friday, the teens won an appeal and had their sentences reverted to the maximum allowed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which is seven years, including four in custody. Story continues below advertisement “I believe now that it’s more of a slap on the wrist,” Elizabeth Prestbakmo, Paul’s sister, told Global News on Monday. 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Sign up for breaking National newsletter Get Started By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy . “People that have committed other crimes will now just be using the system to appeal.” Elizabeth said her brother was a kind and generous man. “He was a very giving man, he was gentle, he was kind, he would do anything for his friends, he was very loyal,” she said. Elizabeth believes her brother’s killers will be released into the community in November — four years after they were initially sentenced. The appeal court ruling is rooted in a Supreme Court of Canada ruling from last July, Rex v. IM, which overturned an adult sentence imposed on a youth who had been convicted of first-degree murder. The court ruled that the Crown failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the youth had the maturity of an adult when the crime was committed. –with files from Rumina Daya Stick to the Facts Add Global News as a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our stories in your search results. Journalistic standards Report an error © 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Sponsored content More from Global News Spain police arrest one of Canada’s most wanted fugitives, police confirm Neighbour shaken after police search Alberta apartment linked to Montreal shooting Advertisement Stay in the loop The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world. 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