Accused man testifies in own defence in Surrey killing trial

Adam Troy Mann testified in his own defence Monday at New Westminster Supreme Court. He is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Tori Dunn in Port Kells on June 16, 2024.

Defence counsel Casey St. Germain told the jury Mann would give his side of the story. Mann, 43 in December, was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, and grew up with his mother and seven younger siblings.

“Now it's time to hear the other side of the story.”

Mann said his father left when he was a toddler and struggled with alcohol addiction, becoming abusive and beating him and his siblings every day. He entered foster care around age five or six and began drinking daily around age 13 or 14.

He did not finish high school, reaching Grade 10, and sometimes worked in construction. Mann confirmed a criminal record including a 2003 Ontario conviction for possession of property obtained by crime, a 2009 failure-to-comply conviction, a two-month sentence for theft under $5,000, and further failures to comply in Abbotsford in 2021 and Vancouver in 2024.

Mann said he was poor and homeless in June 2024 and was using alcohol and cocaine at the time.