The gruesome killing of a Vancouver couple three years ago has resulted in a man being found guilty of first degree murder. Rocky Rambo Wei Nam Kam first went to trial a year go in the Fall of 2019, and faced two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Dianna Mah-Jones, 64, and her husband Richard Jones, 68. Mah-Jones was an occupational therapist by profession at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Her husband was retired and their bodies were found in their Marpole home in the Fall of 2017.
During the trial, Kam took the stand and testified to the court that he forced his way into the couple's house where, he said, he choked and stabbed Mah-Jones and also stabbed her husband and attacked him with a hatchet. During this testinomy he said he had no motive for the killing and didn't know the couple. Kam's defence lawyer, Glen Orris, argued his client believed he was in a video game at the time. Kam went onto say he used to play video games for up to 12 hours a day or more.
Orris argued Kam "could not appreciate in a real sense the real world repercussions of his actions," and suggested the punishment was manslaughter. The Crown argued the killings took well thought out planning, and said items Kam testified he had purchased at a Canadian Tire two weeks beforehand, including a hatchet, all indicated that they were bought with the intent to harm someone. Prosecutor Daniel Mulligan called Kam a "demonstrated liar" and said "the fact he did not clearly explain his motive didn't mean he didn't have one" While presenting the verdict, Justice Laura Gerow told the court there was no question Kam was the person responsible.
Gerow found the Crown had proved Kam had the intent for murder, and that both murders were planned and executed. She indicated that Kam had zero reason to kill Jones or Mah-Jones, and called his behavior "incomprehensible." "He did not express any emotion about killing them, or express any remorse," Gerow said. A first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence and no chance of parole for 25 years. Sentencing for Kam is due for June 18.
Photo courtesy of Felicity Don.