The man charged with the June 16, 2024, stabbing death of Surrey resident Tori Dunn took the witness stand Monday in New Westminster Supreme Court and described a life marked by poverty, foster care and long-standing struggles with alcohol and the criminal justice system.
Accused outlines childhood and background
Under questioning from defence counsel Casey St. Germain, Adam Troy Mann — who faces a charge of second‑degree murder — told jurors he was born and raised in Windsor, Ont., will turn 43 in December and grew up in a large family. Court heard he has a mother and seven younger siblings. Mann said his mother received welfare, his father left when he was a toddler and that his father struggled with alcohol and was physically abusive when drinking.
Mann testified he was placed in foster care around the age of five or six and that he began drinking regularly in his early teens. He said he did not finish high school, completing up to Grade 10, and that he sometimes worked in construction.
“I was poor … homeless,”
Those were among Mann’s statements when asked about his situation in June 2024, the month of Dunn’s death, as the defence sought to provide jurors with context for his life at the time of the alleged killing.
Criminal record and sentences outlined for jury
The court heard a summary of Mann’s past convictions. He confirmed a 2003 Ontario conviction for possession of property obtained by crime, for which he served seven months. He also acknowledged a 2009 Ontario conviction for failure to comply with a court order. Mann said he served a two‑month sentence for a theft under $5,000 conviction, and that he was convicted of two failures to comply with court orders in Abbotsford in 2021, plus a failure to comply with a court order in Vancouver in 2024.
| Year | Offence / Outcome |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Possession of property obtained by crime — served seven months |
| 2009 | Failure to comply with a court order (Ontario) |
| Unknown | Theft under $5,000 — served two months |
| 2021 | Two failures to comply with court orders (Abbotsford) |
| 2024 | Failure to comply with a court order (Vancouver) |
Trial context and courtroom scene
The trial, which began on Oct. 5, is being overseen by B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Layton. Mann remained standing while he testified and looked toward counsel, jurors and members of Dunn’s family and friends who were present in the gallery, according to court reporting. Defence counsel told the jury before Mann’s evidence that the accused would "give you his defence" and that it was time to hear the other side of the story.
- Charge: second‑degree murder in relation to the June 16, 2024, death of Tori Dunn in Port Kells.
- Court: New Westminster Supreme Court; trial started Oct. 5; Justice David Layton presiding.
- Defence: Casey St. Germain opened the defence case and called the accused to testify.
The testimony emphasised Mann’s personal history rather than detailing the events of the night of June 16, 2024. Prosecutors have previously presented evidence aimed at establishing the Crown’s case; on Monday the focus shifted to the accused’s account of his upbringing, addictions and interactions with the justice system.
Local implications and unanswered questions
For Surrey residents, the trial has underscored persistent concerns about community safety, homelessness and substance use. Mann’s account — of childhood poverty, early entry into foster care and longstanding alcohol use — highlights social factors that commonly surface in cases involving violent crime. How the jury weighs those circumstances against the Crown’s evidence will determine whether Mann is convicted of second‑degree murder.
The proceeding continues with further testimony expected as the defence presents its case. Until the jury reaches a verdict, the court record will primarily consist of what has been read into evidence and what witnesses tell the court. The presence of Dunn’s family in the gallery and the gravity of the charge mean the trial remains a closely watched matter in Surrey and beyond.
Reporting on courtroom proceedings follows the restrictions and conventions of the justice system; additional details will emerge as the defence and Crown call witnesses and make submissions in the days ahead.
