NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS 1130) – Another guilty plea has been entered in connection to the deaths of two people in Mission back in 2008.
Tom Holden left BC Supreme Court in New Westminster without saying a word after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. He is out on bail until a sentencing hearing next January.
Holden is the fourth person to be linked to this case. Three other men earlier entered guilty pleas — one for two counts of first-degree murder and the other for manslaughter. The third man was sentenced to seven years behind bars, but was credited with five years for time served. Holden is alleged to have hired someone to kill Lisa Dudley and Guthrie McKay in a dispute over a marijuana grow-op.
Family of Lisa Dudley is disappointed w/deal, wants inquest. They feel there are many questions left unanswered. pic.twitter.com/MqlgMYulRG
— Shannon Brennan (@Shanbrennan1130) September 6, 2016
Dudley’s mother isn’t happy Holden was given a plea deal. “I called him a coward because he’s the big man in there and he is not going to take the full punishment as a man should and would.”
She adds the family was promised a Coroner’s Inquest but that hasn’t happened and they are renewing demands for one.
Holden to be sentenced Jan 9th/2017. He is the last person I trial for 2008 murders.
— Shannon Brennan (@Shanbrennan1130) September 6, 2016
This case ignited some controversy after the pair was found in their home four days after neighbours had phoned 911 saying they had heard shots being fired. McKay was dead and Dudley was found tied to a chair bleeding out.
The first RCMP officer who responded to the call never got out of his police cruiser and later reported he didn’t see anything unusual. In a subsequent police review, that Mountie was found guilty of disgraceful conduct and deducted one day’s pay.