Judge orders psychiatric tests to see if Vancouver Lapu-Lapu Day attack suspect fit for trial

The man accused in Vancouver’s deadly Filipino street festival attack is facing new scrutiny in court.

A judge has ordered that mental health professionals assess whether 30-year-old Kai Ji Adam Lo is fit for trial.

Lo is charged with eight counts of second-degree murder related to the attack. He appeared by video in a Vancouver provincial court Friday afternoon.

Police have said Lo had no criminal history but has a significant history of mental health concerns and interactions with police.

Michael Shapray, a B.C. criminal defence lawyer not related to the case, says the real question will be how does mental health “interplay” with the events of the attack?

“Police have certainly indicated that there’s a history of mental-health and/or mental illness issues that they’re aware of,” said Shapray.

“We may have lawyers looking at the issue as to whether or not they run a defence of ‘not criminally responsible due to mental disorder,’ but it’s certainly not something we have enough information about yet.”

Judge Reg Harris set Lo’s next appearance for May 30.

Friday’s application hearing and the case are subject to a broad publication ban that Harris says is “to protect the fairness of the trial process.”

 Harris says the purpose of the ban is not to restrict public information but to “protect the process going forward.”

—With files from Michael Williams