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RCMP investigating Yosef Gopaul for earlier assault in Newton

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SURREY — RCMP are investigating the possibility that Yosef Jomo Gopaul, 27, -- the man charged with killing Julie Paskall, 53, -- may be linked to an earlier assault in Surrey.

The assault took place on Dec. 16, 2013 near the Newton Recreation Centre, at 72 Avenue and 137 Street.

A woman in her 20s received injuries to her face when she was attacked as she got off a bus.

While Gopaul has not been charged in relation to the Dec. 16 assault, Surrey RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr said police are looking at links between the assault and Paskall's death.

"We would be remiss because of some of the similarities in the two incidents to not look at that to see if Mr. Gopaul was responsible for that. He has not been charged at this point," Carr said. "We are looking into that investigation to see if we can get the evidence that would support us in sending something to crown council for their assessment and a ultimately a charge approval, but we're not there yet."

Gopaul came to Surrey from Ontario eight weeks prior to the attack which killed Paskall. Gopaul is charged with second degree murder in the death of Julie Paskall.

He first appeared in Surrey provincial court Monday morning and is scheduled back in court on June 13.