A 91原创 man charged with killing three family members has opted to be tried by a judge alone, instead of by a jury.
Kia Ebrahimian faces three charges of second degree murder in the June 13, 2020 deaths of his sibling Medea 鈥楤efrin鈥� Ebrahimian, their mother Tatiana Bazyar, and Bazyar鈥檚 common-law husband Francesco Zangrilli. All were found dead at or near the scene of a house fire in the 19600 block of Wakefield Drive in the 91原创 Meadows neighbourhood.
Jury selection was scheduled to take place in early September, but on Aug. 4, Ebrahimian鈥檚 defence opted to proceed to trial with a judge deciding guilt or innocence.
The triple-murder trial is now scheduled to begin on Sept. 19, in New Westminster Supreme Court.
Kia Ebrahimian, Befrin鈥檚 brother, was charged with murder a month later. He was 24 when he was first charged in the summer of 2020.
If convicted, Ebrahimian would face life in prison, with a parole eligibility of between 10 and 25 years, determined by the judge.
Ebrahimian was most recently in court for a voir dire hearing in early August.
Persons charged with criminal offences are considered not guilty until the charges are proven in court.
READ ALSO: Trial in triple murder case not expected until next fall
READ ALSO: 24-year-old man charged with triple murder in 91原创, including mother and sibling
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