CCTV videos show minutes leading up to deadly Vancouver Starbucks stabbing

CTV News has obtained video shown in court that shows the moments leading up to a fatal stabbing in downtown Vancouver three years ago.

Videos obtained by CTV News show the minutes leading up to a deadly altercation outside of a Starbucks in downtown Vancouver in 2023.

The CCTV videos captured from both outside and inside the coffee shop on the corner of Granville and Pender streets shows Inderdeep Singh Gosal walking up to the patio and sitting down. Soon after, Gosal is seen lighting what appears to be cigar and blowing smoke periodically for around two minutes.

The videos show Paul Schmidt walking inside the Starbucks pushing his child in a stroller before exiting and passing Gosal.

Schmidt can be seen turning down the sidewalk but remaining near the patio railing.

The videos later show Gosal turn in Schmidt’s direction and begin speaking to him. There is no audio so it’s unclear what is being said.

After an interaction from a distance, you can see Schmidt move closer with the stroller, while Gosal stands up with his hand in his pants pocket.

Schmidt can be seen leaving the stroller near the entrance of the patio, and walking toward Gosal who then puts his hand in his hoodie pocket. The two then appear to square up to fight and that is where the video ends.

Schmidt was later stabbed six times in the chest and was left lying in a pool of blood.

This week, Gosal told the court during his trial that Schmidt swore at him from across the patio, sparking a verbal altercation, but said he was relieved when Schmidt walked away.

But, Gosal said, Schmidt then handed the child he was with to a woman before initiating a physical altercation. Gosal said he was afraid he “was going to die” before stabbing him.

He explained that earlier that day he stopped to urinate in an alleyway where he saw the knife “in good condition” on the ledge of a dumpster.

“People have been aggressive toward me, especially downtown and on TransLink, and I took it as a sign from God to protect myself,” Gosal told the trial.

Gosal’s lawyer, Gloria Ng, said her client suffers from psychosis and schizophrenia and was unmedicated on the day of the killing.

“The defence will ultimately ask this court to find Mr. Gosal guilty of manslaughter of Mr. Schmidt, but not guilty of second-degree murder,” said Ng.

The trial is expected to continue on Wednesday, March 11.

With files from The Canadian Press