British Columbia

Colin Hill, slain Surrey homeowner, died protecting his family, wife posts on Facebook

The wife of slain Surrey, B.C. homeowner Colin Hill has posted a moving tribute to her husband on Facebook.

Becky Zhou writes that Hill was the 'very best husband'

Slain Surrey homeowner Colin Hill pictured with his wife Becky Zhou in an image posted to Facebook by Zhou. (Facebook)

The wife of slain Surrey, B.C. homeowner Colin Hill posted a moving tribute to her husband on Facebook in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Becky Zhou described how Hill — a 42-year-old father of two — attempted to prevent a man breaking into the family home on Sunday night while making sure his family were safe.

Zhou says her husband first tried holding the door closed against the intruder, shouting to the rest of the family to hide. When Hill couldn't hold the door any longer, he led the intruder outside, Zhou says, in order to give her and her children time to hide.

"Colin is the best real estate agent," she writes. "Very Protective Father. Very best husband a person could ever asked for."

Zhou ended her post with a plea for personal space and privacy. She told CBC News that the family will release a statement in the coming days.

Hill was 'a hero'

Others told CBC News they considered Hill a hero.

"He's a hero in everybody's eyes," Mike Marfori said Tuesday. "He [was] that type of person that would take his own life for anybody."

Neighbours expressed concern that such a dreadful crime could happen on their doorstep.

According to court documents, Khouri Lamar Green, the 22-year-old man charged in connection with Hill's death was on probation at the time of the slaying.

Jessica Obra says she's angry that Green had a long criminal history at the time of the shooting — and was out on probation.

"We know that Canada is a friendly country and you have the freedom, but no one has the freedom to kill anybody," she told CBC News.

"It's truly sad, and I feel terribly sad for Becky and her family and for Colin's friends and loved ones."

He appeared in court Tuesday to face a charge of second-degree murder. The case was put over until September.

With files from Kirk Williams