Police release Surrey homicide victim’s name, confirm foul play was a factor

SURREY, B.C. – Police say foul play was a factor in the 22nd homicide of the year in Surrey, B.C.

Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says an autopsy has been completed on 44-year-old Mark Berry, but police are holding back his cause of his death.

Berry’s body was found inside a North Surrey home early Monday, and Pound says the man had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1987.

She says he occasionally stayed at the home where his body was found but was not a full-time tenant.

The high homicide count sparked Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts to launch a task force to look at drug and gang activity and contributing factors in murder rates that seem to spike every four years.

The Surrey RCMP’s Chief Supt. Bill Fordy says some people who associate with criminals are only enabling them, which could have tragic consequences, and those who engage in criminal activity are not welcome in the city.