A man accused in a high-profile murder and kidnapping in North Vancouver has been denied bail.

In October, Tian Yi Eddie Zhang, 23, was charged with first-degree murder after the body of a Chinese man was found in North Vancouver a month earlier.

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Zhang, who was also charged with kidnapping, applied to be released on bail, but B.C. Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Austin Cullen dismissed the application following a hearing this week.

The reasons for the judge declining bail cannot be reported due to a publication ban routinely imposed at bail hearings in Canada.

At bail hearings, the Crown can seek the detention of an accused on one or more of three grounds. Judges consider whether an accused is a flight risk and a risk to re-offend. They also look at whether the release of the accused would bring the justice system into disrepute. The body of Peng Sun, 22, was found after the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team arrived at the 900-block of Wellington Drive in North Vancouver.

At the time, neighbours said they believed the dead man was found inside a white Bentley that was towed from the scene along with two other vehicles.

A second man, Casey James Hiscoe, 21, has also been charged with kidnapping but was ordered released on bail. Two others were charged with interfering with a dead body but have had their charges stayed.

After the murder charge was laid, Zhang was charged with additional offences relating to an incident in Richmond two weeks before the murder. Zhang is charged with forcible confinement, assault and uttering threats in connection with the Richmond incident. He has not had a bail hearing on those charges.

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