Crown wants Surrey Six murder trials fast-tracked

Crown prosecutors in B.C. are hoping to fast-track court proceedings against three alleged gang members facing first-degree murder charges in connection to the slayings of six people in a Surrey condo in 2007.

The prosecutors hope to go directly to trial and avoid any pretrial hearings.

The prosecutors made the statement as alleged members of the Red Scorpions gang, Jamie Bacon and Matthew Johnson, appeared briefly in a Surrey courtroom on Tuesday morning on first-degree murder charges.

Both men were arrested last week.

Co-accused Cody Haevischer made a brief court appearance on Monday on six charges of first-degree murder.

Bacon is facing one count of first-degree murder, while Johnson and Haevischer are both facing six. None of the three entered a plea and all remain in custody. It is not yet clear if they will be tried separately or together.

A fourth alleged member of the Red Scorpions, Dennis Karbovanec, pleaded guilty on Friday to three charges of second-degree murder in connection to the Surrey slayings and is expected to be sentenced later this week.

Bacon's brother, Jarrod, who is also an alleged member of the Red Scorpions, made a court appearance alongside his brother Jamie on Tuesday morning on charges tied to an unrelated incident.  

The brothers both face more than two dozen weapons charges dating back to May 2008.

Their parents, along with a third brother, Jonathan Bacon, who is also an alleged Red Scorpion, were in court Tuesday to watch the proceedings, but refused to speak to reporters.