A judge has ordered that mental health professionals assess whether the suspect in last weekend's Vancouver street festival attack that killed 11 people is fit for trial.
Thirty-year-old Adam Kai-Ji Lo, who is facing eight charges of second-degree murder, appeared in Vancouver provincial court by video on Friday, the day of mourning in British Columbia for those killed in last Saturday's vehicle-ramming attack on the Filipino community's Lapu Lapu Day festival.
He wore red prison fatigues and sat on a blue couch in a white-brick cell.
Judge Reg Harris set Lo's next appearance for the morning of May 30 in Vancouver Provincial Court, estimating it would take between five and ten minutes.聽
Friday's application hearing and the case are subject to a broad publication ban that Harris said was "to protect the fairness of the trial process," by avoiding potential "contamination" of the witness or jury pool.
The purpose of the ban was not to restrict public information, Harris said, but to "protect the process going forward."
Harris said the assessment of Lo would occur in an 鈥渋n-custody setting with mental health professionals."
Lo mostly sat motionless with his arms at his sides during the hearing, but occasionally fidgeted and appeared to bite his nails as he waited for the hearing to begin, only speaking to acknowledge he could see and hear the proceedings.聽
Lo's lawyer Mark Swartz, who also appeared by video link, did not respond to a request for comment Friday.聽
Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly declined to comment after the hearing concluded.聽
Philippines Vice Consul Marco Harder with the Vancouver consulate attended but said he couldn't comment on the hearing.
Harder said later that the consulate "has been working around the clock to establish contact with the victims and determine the appropriate assistance that can be provided to them."
He said officials in Vancouver and their counterparts at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila are working to help victims and focus on "ensuring our nationals receive assistance and support, and that justice is administered and that justice is served."
The provincial day of mourning for those killed when an SUV drove through the festival was set to include a memorial mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver.
Premier David Eby said Friday that was time for British Columbia to give back to the Filipino community on the day of remembrance and "take steps to ensure such an atrocity never happens again."
Eby said in a statement that it was a day to come together to grieve those lost, comfort the injured and support witnesses "whose lives will never be the same after seeing this shocking attack."
A community spokesman said the day of mourning was part of the healing process but "certainly not the end of it."
RJ Aquino with Filipino BC, the group that organized the Lapu Lapu Day event, said the government's designation of the day of mourning showed the significance of the tragedy in the history of the province and the city.
Aquino said the community was receiving support from around the world, while memorials to those killed and the dozens hurt continue to grow.聽
He said additional support from the City of Vancouver, as well as the provincial and federal governments, will be needed to counter the impact of the attack.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the attack represented "one of the darkest days in our city鈥檚 history."
"A celebration meant to uplift community, culture and pride was shattered by an unthinkable act of violence," he wrote in a statement Friday to mark the day of mourning.
"The pain caused by this tragedy has been felt far beyond the festival grounds, impacting families, friends, and loved ones across Vancouver and throughout British Columbia. We are devastated. We are heartbroken. And we are standing together in grief and in solidarity."
Schools and other public offices remained open, but Eby said he expected employers to be understanding if people wish to attend events or mark the day in their own way.聽
He said in his statement that it's "difficult for anyone in British Columbia not to have been touched in some way by a member of the Filipino 春色直播 community."
"Filipino 春色直播s have a well-earned reputation as a giving community. Now, it is our turn to give back. To offer care. To offer solace. To offer hugs and support. To take steps to ensure such an atrocity never happens again," he said.
Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, said there is a role for political leaders to comment on issues to maintain public confidence and voice public frustrations after public tragedies.聽
Eby has called the suspect a 鈥渕ass murderer鈥 who should spend the rest of his life in jail, and parliamentary privilege protects Eby from any legal consequences.
But Prest said there was a 鈥渞eal risk in potentially contaminating a jury or in some sense biasing the population鈥 against an individual who is 鈥渁bout to face the full weight of the state and has the right to best defence."
While the public might be 鈥渃rying out for some kind of answer, some kind of consequence,鈥 there was still an obligation to provide for a fair trial, Prest said.
鈥淪o comments like this can threaten that process,鈥 Prest said. 鈥淭here is a real concern there, because when you are facing a criminal trial, you are facing the weight of the state, the combined resources of the state.鈥
The British Columbia Prosecution Service said Friday's court appearance came after Lo's lawyer requested the appearance be moved ahead from the previously scheduled date of May 26.
Police have said more charges are expected against Lo.
This report by 春色直播was first published May 2, 2025.
