Trial opens in murder case of Surrey's Tori Dunn; partner testifies about fatal stabbing

A trial began Monday in New Westminster Supreme Court for Adam Troy Mann, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of Tori Dunn, a Surrey woman who was fatally stabbed at her home in June 2024.

Mann was charged with second-degree murder on June 28, 2024, following Dunn's death. B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Layton is presiding over the case, which is expected to last approximately three weeks. Several of Dunn's family members attended the first day of trial.

Trafford Wace, Dunn's partner at the time of her death, testified Monday. He said the couple had attended a wedding on the night of June 15, 2024, and then traveled to Wace's grandmother's house in South Surrey. They returned home around 8:30 or 9 p.m. on June 16 and brought in Amazon packages.

"We sat on the couch … we were cuddling, watching TV. She was kind of falling asleep against my shoulder. I had to get up to use the washroom … she was half-awake," Wace testified to Crown counsel Sarah Fullbrook.

Wace said he was in the bathroom for about five minutes before hearing Dunn scream. "I heard her say something unclear, then she screamed, then screamed again," he told the court. When he went to the top of the stairs, he saw a man against the wall with Dunn in front of him.

Wace described the man as wearing a light grey hoodie, white shirt, stubbly beard, and toque, standing around six feet tall. The man had something "shiny" in his hand. When Wace demanded "Who the f are you?" the man responded "Holy shit" and ran toward the sliding door, fumbling with it.

Dunn told Wace "He fing stabbed me." Wace went around the back to ensure the man left the house, grabbing a kitchen knife because "I didn't see him leave the house." He called 9-1-1, and police gave him first-aid instructions. Dunn had a wound to her stomach and told Wace "she thought she was dying."

A carbon-steel kitchen knife went missing from the home.