Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Charges Laid, Motive Still Unclear In Vancouver Double Homicide: Police Chief

Darpan News Desk, 09 Nov, 2017 11:33 AM
  • Charges Laid, Motive Still Unclear In Vancouver Double Homicide: Police Chief
VANCOUVER — Investigators are still trying to determine a motive in the double murder six weeks ago of a couple in their home, Vancouver's police chief said Wednesday.
 
Chief Const. Adam Palmer said 25-year-old Rocky Kam remains in custody after being charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Dianna Mah-Jones and Richard Jones on Sept. 27.
 
"I truly hope today's announcement will bring a sense of relief for the family and friends of the victims," Palmer said at a news conference.
 
More than 200 officers and staff were involved in the investigation, Palmer said, and police received over 100 sources of video footage and tips from the public.
 
No evidence has been found connecting the accused with the victims and it is possible the attack was random, he said.
 
"The relationship between the victims, if any, and the accused remains unclear. Investigators are trying to piece together a motive for these crimes," he said.
 
Palmer said Kam was born in Hong Kong, immigrated to Calgary with his family as a teenager and has been in Vancouver since July.
 
 
He was arrested at a residence not far from where the crimes happened, Palmer said.
 
Kam has no criminal record or known mental health issues, he said. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
 
Mah-Jones was a highly respected occupational therapist who worked at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre and Vancouver General Hospital, says Vancouver Coastal Health. She was also a clinical associate professor in occupational science and occupational therapy at the University of British Columbia.
 
Mah-Jones spent 35 years working with Vancouver Coastal Health and was named outstanding occupational therapist of the year in 2015 by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists BC. She was also celebrated as a provincial health care hero at the BC Health Care Awards in June.
 
The health authority said Mah-Jones would "think outside the box" to come up with solutions for her patients' needs. In one case, she designed and built a device that uses pulleys and levers to help a patient who had physical challenges to feed himself.
 
"Dianna will be remembered as someone who went above and beyond to make a difference for her patients and missed by all who knew her," Vancouver Coastal Health said in a recent news release.
 
There is nothing in the victims' backgrounds that suggests they would be targeted, Palmer said.
 
"They were upstanding people just going about their lives causing no trouble for anybody."

MORE National ARTICLES

Experts See Some Relief For Vancouver's Tight Housing Market By Late 2018

Experts See Some Relief For Vancouver's Tight Housing Market By Late 2018
VANCOUVER — A real estate association watching Metro Vancouver's tight and costly housing market predicts conditions should begin to ease by the third quarter of 2018.

Experts See Some Relief For Vancouver's Tight Housing Market By Late 2018

Vancouver Warns Homeowners To Fill In Forms On Empty Homes Tax Or Risk Fine

Vancouver Warns Homeowners To Fill In Forms On Empty Homes Tax Or Risk Fine
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is warning homeowners if they fail to declare their property status by Feb. 2, they will face the city's empty homes tax plus a $250 fine.

Vancouver Warns Homeowners To Fill In Forms On Empty Homes Tax Or Risk Fine

Jagmeet Singh Sets Sights On Opioids, Pushes Trudeau To Legalize All Drugs To Tackle Crisis

Jagmeet Singh Sets Sights On Opioids, Pushes Trudeau To Legalize All Drugs To Tackle Crisis
OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to consider decriminalizing all illegal drugs in an effort to combat Canada's escalating opioid crisis..

Jagmeet Singh Sets Sights On Opioids, Pushes Trudeau To Legalize All Drugs To Tackle Crisis

Abbotsford Police Officer Killed Identified As John Davidson, A 24 Year Veteran

Abbotsford Police Officer Killed Identified As John Davidson, A 24 Year Veteran
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — A British Columbia police officer who died in the line of duty has been identified as a constable with 24 years of experience who was also active in his community.

Abbotsford Police Officer Killed Identified As John Davidson, A 24 Year Veteran

At Least Two Police Officers Injured In Abbotsford, B.C., Suspect In Custody

At Least Two Police Officers Injured In Abbotsford, B.C., Suspect In Custody
The Incident Occurred Near Mount Lehman Road And Fraser Highway Shortly Before Noon

At Least Two Police Officers Injured In Abbotsford, B.C., Suspect In Custody

Teens Who Drink, Smoke Weed Are Less Likely To Study, Score Jobs Or Get Married

A study found that chronic marijuana use in adolescence was negatively associated with achieving important developmental milestones in young adulthood.

Teens Who Drink, Smoke Weed Are Less Likely To Study, Score Jobs Or Get Married