Ted Colley, Surrey Now

Published: Tuesday, August 11, 2009

SURREY – Accused murderer Katherine Quinn’s second trial is set to begin on April 6, 2010 in B.C. Supreme Court. The new trial is expected to last six weeks. Quinn, 27, and her boyfriend Robert Forslund, 28 at the time the crime was committed, were convicted in April 2007 of second-degree murder in the July 2, 2005 killing of 16-year-old Matthew Martins outside Surrey Central SkyTrain station.

Forslund savagely beat the teen and slashed his throat with a broken beer bottle after a brief scuffle between Quinn and the boy in which Quinn claimed she had been stabbed. Medical evidence at her trial showed she had received a superficial wound under one arm.

A witness at Quinn’s trial testified the accused had “jumped” the teen intending to steal a silver chain and crucifix he wore around his neck. Quinn denied the allegation. Martins later died in hospital.

While she did not participate physically in the deadly assault on Martins, Quinn was convicted of aiding and abetting Forslund when a B.C. Supreme Court jury found she had told him to “get” or “kill” the boy. The jury also found Quinn had given Forslund the beer bottle he used in the attack.

Quinn and Forslund were given mandatory life sentences with Forlsund ordered to serve at least 17 years before applying for parole. Quinn was condemned to 10 years behind bars before being allowed ask for early release.

Quinn’s conviction was overturned in June when the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled the Crown had not proven Quinn had given Forslund the bottle. The court also found the trial judge had erred in his instructions to the jury.

Last month, Quinn was granted bail pending trial. Forslund did not appeal his conviction or sentence.