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Man accused of fatally stabbing B.C. father outside Starbucks appears before judge

The downtown Vancouver killing of Paul Stanley Schmidt was likely witnessed by dozens of people, police say.

The B.C. man accused of murdering a father at a downtown Vancouver Starbucks made his second appearance in Vancouver provincial court April 11.

Inderdeep Singh Gosal, 32, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Paul Stanley Schmidt, 37.

Gosal was denied bail March 27 and remains in custody at North Fraser Pretrial Centre. He appeared by video.

Defence lawyer Jas Mangat told Judge James Sutherland he is awaiting disclosure on the case from the Crown and asked for a week’s adjournment.

Sutherland put the case over to April 18.

The killing was witnessed by dozens of people. A video of it went viral online.

Around 5:40 p.m. on March 26, two men were involved in an altercation outside the Starbucks at West Pender and Granville streets when one of the men was stabbed, according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

A bystander immediately flagged a police officer who was able to arrest a suspect at the scene.

More officers soon arrived and provided first aid to the victim, but he later died in hospital.

Investigators are trying to determine a motive for the stabbing.

"Investigators do not believe the victim and suspect knew each other; however, the circumstances that led up to the fatal stabbing remain under investigation," police said at the time of the incident.

“We believe this homicide was witnessed by dozens of bystanders, and there may be people with information who have not yet come forward,” Sgt. Steve Addison said. 

“We particularly want to hear from anyone who was present in the moments before the stabbing, or anyone who has cellphone video of the incident,” Addison said.

The VPD said Schmidt’s death is the city's sixth homicide of the year.

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