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Two youths have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing of 45-year-old Delphin Paul Prestbakmo.

Police say Prestbakmo was walking near a mall in Surrey shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 16 when he was killed in what they’re calling an unprovoked attack. He was found suffering from stab wounds in the 1700-block of 152nd Street, near the Semiahmoo Shopping Centre. Prestbakmo, a mechanic who lived near the mall, later died from his injuries.

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On Thursday, two youths, aged 15 and 16, were charged with second-degree murder. The boys have both been in custody for nearly a month for failing to abide with court-imposed conditions.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesman Sgt. Frank Jang says the two knew Prestbakmo, who he described as a well-known mechanic in the Semiahmoo community.

“They knew Paul as being part of the community. We don’t believe that this was a stranger-on-stranger situation,” said Jang, noting that both teens were known to police. “They’re youths, so we’re limited in what we can share and certainly we’re not going to be releasing their identity.”

On the night of the killing, Prestbakmo had just stepped outside his home to take out the garbage.

“He went for a smoke and then he was subsequently murdered … it’s a tragic case,” said Jang.

sbrown@postmedia.com

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