Man Denies Guilt in Vancouver Starbucks 2023 Murder Trial

A man stands trial for the second-degree murder of Paul Schmidt, a 37-year-old who was fatally stabbed outside a Starbucks in Downtown Vancouver. The incident, which took place on March 26, 2023, has prompted a five-week trial at the B.C. Supreme Court. Inderdeep Singh Gosal, the accused, pleaded not guilty and faces serious charges related to this violent act.

Trial Overview

The trial commenced with Crown prosecutor Karin Blok presenting evidence, including graphic CCTV footage of the stabbing incident. The central issue remains whether the prosecution can establish that Gosal intended to harm Schmidt and was reckless about the potential for death.

Details of the Incident

The stabbing occurred shortly after 5 p.m. PT at Starbucks, located at Granville and Pender streets. According to Blok, Gosal traveled via Canada Line SkyTrain from Broadway–City Hall station to City Centre station, arriving at the cafe shortly thereafter.

Footage shows Gosal seated on the patio, where he appeared to smoke. Schmidt, dressed in black and pushing a stroller, exited Starbucks and briefly left the frame. A confrontation ensued between the two men, although the video lacks audio.

• The altercation lasted approximately 25 seconds.
• Gosal allegedly stabbed Schmidt six times in the chest.
• Following the attack, Schmidt collapsed, leading to Gosal initially entering the cafe before being arrested.

Witness Testimonies

The Crown plans to call 11 witnesses, including civilians and police officers, to testify about the events surrounding the stabbing. Michael Allan, a witness who was working on a laptop inside Starbucks, recounted hearing grunts and chaos as the confrontation unfolded.

• Allan described the men as “grappling” and noted frantic movements.
• After the incident, patrons inside the cafe began to flee, triggered by screams and chaos.

Furthermore, Allan acknowledged he later viewed video footage of the incident but based his testimony on his immediate recollections. He expressed feeling disturbed about what he witnessed and provided a witness statement to the police shortly after the event.

Next Steps in the Trial

The trial is set to continue, exploring evidence to establish the circumstances of Schmidt’s tragic death. The outcome will hinge on the prosecution’s ability to prove Gosal’s intent and recklessness in this violent act at a public venue.