By Jim Coggins

A FORMER member of the Red Scorpions gang, who turned himself in last fall and confessed to two murders, made a dramatic court appearance last month.

On April 13, Anton Hooites-Meursing, 39, pleaded guilty to first degree murder – in the deaths of 22 year old Randy Philip McLeod of Surrey in 2001, and 19 year old Gurpreet (Bobby) Singh Rehal in 2003.

He was sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 25 years. At the time of his confession, Hooites-Meursing had been charged with a third gang-related murder; but charges in that case have been stayed.

Hooites-Meursing told police that his decision to leave the gang lifestyle was due to remorse for the deaths of two innocent bystanders among the ‘Surrey Six’ – men who were murdered October 19, 2007.

Hooites-Meursing has admitted to being part of the plot to murder four rival gang members in a Surrey highrise. But they ended up also killing Chris Mohan, a neighbour; and Ed Schellenberg, 55, of Abbotsford – who was there to service a gas fireplace. Schellenberg was a prominent member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Abbotsford.

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Hooites-Meursing has agreed to testify for the prosecution in the trial of four other men accused of the Surrey Six murders.

He told The Vancouver Sun he decided to leave his 20-year life of crime when “it became clear that the game was fake and everybody in it were frauds – no real honour, no real friendship, nothing to ever be proud of.”

Hooites-Meursing said he would “do everything that is within my power” to tell the truth and provide justice for the families of the murder victims.

He added: “May God bless them and all who are victims of the senseless violence . . . of the gangs and drugs subculture of the Lower Mainland.”

Hooites-Meursing also stated that he will try to “shine in the light of Jesus and the grace that is from God,” but confessed: “I have much doubt and much worry as to whether God ultimately will forgive me.”

May 2010