Khoa Tran convicted of second-degree murder in Liberty Village neighbour killing

Khoa Tran has been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his neighbour, filmmaker Reeyaz Habib, 53. A sentencing hearing concluded Tuesday in Toronto court, with the Crown asking for a minimum 18 years before Tran is eligible for parole. Tran's wife, Isabelle Nguyen, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact and committing an indignity to a dead body; the Crown is asking for a sentence of 4 to 6 years.

Habib's body was found June 8, 2023, in the area of East Liberty Street and Western Battery Road, wrapped in blankets and duct tape. Habib lived in a condo townhouse above Tran. The dispute that led to the killing began over barbeque smoke from Tran's balcony. Tran testified he was angry at Habib's complaints and threw Habib's bicycle in a dumpster in an act of revenge. He denied killing Habib. Crown prosecutors argued the dispute escalated after Habib threatened to go to the condo board to have Tran removed for infractions. Tran's fingerprints were found on the duct tape.

At the hearing, victim impact statements from Habib's family laid bare the grief the killing has caused. Habib's mother, Malekhanu Habib, 86, was too physically weak to attend in person and provided a written statement. "There is an emptiness in me that I cannot explain. How could someone do this to my son?" she wrote. Habib's sister, Salima, described her heart as "pulverized." She called Reeyaz "a truly extraordinary human being. He worked hard. He loved deeply. He cared about his family. He cared about his community."

Second-degree murder carries a life sentence with a minimum of 10 years before parole eligibility. The defence is asking for Tran to be eligible after 12 to 13 years. Sentencing reasons and the judge's decision will be delivered October 26.