In an unusual move, B.C.'s highest court has refused to release a ruling involving a man who has shown up in the news on many occasions over more than a decade.

Today, the B.C. Court of Appeal ordered a new trial for Jamie Bacon, one of the Abbotsford-raised Bacon Brothers, on a first-degree murder charge.

This overturns a 2017 B.C. Supreme Court decision staying the charge against Bacon in connection with one of six killings in a Surrey high-rise on October 19, 2007.

Two of the victims, Christopher Mohan and Ed Schellenberg, were described as innocent bystanders by police. The two men happened to be in the vicinity when the attack occurred.

"The reasons for judgment are of the Court, and are signed," the B.C. Court of Appeal says in a statement on its website. "However, as a consequence of issues of various privileges and confidential information, the British Columbia Supreme Court judgment is sealed and the hearing of the appeal was in camera.

"The multiple issues of confidentiality means that our full reasons for judgment must be sealed and only an abbreviated version complying with the obligations of confidentiality may be released to the public," the statement continues.

"The division is presently consulting with counsel to canvass the text of the abbreviated reasons so as to allow for public release of reasons for judgment that comply with the requirements of confidentiality."