Kai-Ji Adam Lo, the man accused of killing 11 people in an alleged car-ramming attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day Filipino festival in South Vancouver on April 26, has been found mentally fit to stand trial on murder charges.
In delivering his decision, Judge Reginald Harris also ordered Lo to remain in custody.
In addition to 11 counts of second-degree murder, 31 charges of attempted murder were filed against Lo Wednesday morning before the judge’s decision.
In a news release, the Vancouver Police Department said the new charges are related to the surviving victims of the attack.
Lo appeared in court via video and rubbed his eyes as Harris read out the verdict.
Judge Reginald Harris has found Kai-Ji Adam Lo, the man accused of killing 11 people in a car-ramming attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver earlier this year, mentally fit to stand trial. Lo remains in custody, and is now facing 31 additional charges in relation to the surviving victims.
CORRECTION (Sept. 10, 2025): A previous version of this upload incorrectly stated that Kai-Ji Adam Lo faced 42 new charges. In fact, he is facing 31 new charges, for a total of 42. That video was removed.
“In conclusion, I’m satisfied that Mr. Lo is currently fit to stand trial,” said Harris. “Specifically, he is able to conduct his defence, he knows the nature and the object and the consequences of the proceedings. Further, he is able and willing to communicate with his lawyer.”
Outside of the courthouse, Kristina Corpin-Moser, executive director of Filipino B.C., said the fitness ruling is what many in her community were hoping for.
“I think it brings a great deal of relief,” she said. “There’s still a lot of unanswered questions. This also brings up a lot of anxiety for people as we understand that these sorts of court hearings are the beginning of a long process.”
Wednesday’s verdict is the result of a three-day hearing where the court heard evidence and arguments related to reports prepared by two expert-witness forensic psychiatrists.
Accused in Canada are presumed fit to stand trial unless found otherwise. At issue was not the state of Lo’s mental health on April 26, but rather his present condition.
Generally, the test to determine if a person is fit to stand trial is based on whether they can understand the nature and consequences of court proceedings, and whether they are able to meaningfully communicate with their legal counsel.
After Lo was arrested, it was revealed he was under the care of a mental health team at the time of the alleged car-ramming attack.
Richard Schneider, retired judge and University of Toronto forensic psychiatry professor, said the court can revisit the issue of mental competency several times during a trial, especially if the accused is “fragile.”
“In some mental disorders there is a reasonable prognosis that given some time and treatment, adherence the psychotic symptoms will subside and the accused will become fit to stand trial,” he said. “Competence can change from one day to the next and often improves with the help of psychiatric care.”
Harris is expected to rule Thursday afternoon on the sweeping publication ban on information heard during Lo’s mental fitness hearing.
CBC News is part of the media consortium that brought a challenge to have the ban lifted.
