A Richmond man already accused of murder and conspiracy to murder is due in B.C. Supreme Court to elect a trial by judge or judge and jury on charges related to Vancouver sex and assault allegations.
Richard Charles Reed is charged with sexually assaulting and sexual touching a person under 16 years of age, in December 2020, according to a March 24 B.C. Supreme Court indictment.
He's further charged with assaulting the complainant on Dec. 27, 2020.
He's also charged with using an imitation firearm while committing or attempting to commit assault or while during flight after that offence.
Reed is also charged with assault by choking, suffocating or strangling the complainant on Dec. 30, 2020. He is further charged with carrying, using or threatening to use a weapon or imitation weapon in the Dec. 30 alleged assault.
It's alleged Reed had child pornography in his possession on Jan. 2, 2021. That same day, Reed is also charged with resisting two Vancouver police officers.
Reed was due to appear before Justice George Macintosh July 6 for an election of trial type but the appearance was rescheduled for a later date.
Other charges
In November, Reed was charged with the first-degree murder of alleged professional money launderer Jian Jun Zhu following a shooting inside a Richmond restaurant on Sept.18, 2020.
Zhu was shot to death in Manzo restaurant while dining with alleged money launderer Paul King Jin, who was injured by a bullet from the alleged attack.
Charges against Reed there include first-degree murder, aggravated assault, discharging a restricted or prohibited firearm with intent, reckless discharge of a prohibited or restricted firearm, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with readily accessible ammunition and possessing a firearm with an altered, defaced or removed serial number.
Back in Vancouver, Reed continues to make provincial court appearances.
Reed and Seyed Naveed Mohtashamian are alleged to have conspired between Jan. 2 and June 2, 2021, to murder Spencer Griffith at or near Vancouver, Port Coquitlam and Richmond, court documents said.
