Murder charge laid in downtown Vancouver chef stabbing

Vancouver police have arrested and charged a 32-year-old man in the stabbing death of a Japanese restaurant chef near the city's Chinatown last week.

Police say Timothy Isborn is in custody and faces a second-degree murder charge following his six-day investigation.

The stabbing occurred in the early hours of June 5, when chef Wataru Kakiuchi, 32, was found injured and died before he could be taken to hospital.

Police say the suspect and victim did not know each other before the fatal attack.

VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison says the arrest comes after extensive collection of crime scene evidence and information from the public, which was “integral” to identifying the suspect.

Addison says the suspect was arrested Monday.

He told a news conference Wednesday that police understood the killing had caused “great concern.”

Addison said he hoped the arrest could “restore some comfort and a sense of security to the community that was on edge.”

Police say anyone with information is asked to contact homicide investigators.

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