A mental fitness assessment has been ordered for the man accused of the tragic killing of British Columbia RCMP officer Const. Shaelyn Yang over three years ago. Jongwon Ham, who appeared in a Vancouver court dressed in a grey suit and black-rimmed glasses, faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the October 2022 incident that took Yang’s life.
Originally set for trial on Monday, Ham’s proceedings have been postponed pending the results of the assessment to determine his ability to stand trial. The fatal stabbing of Yang occurred on Oct. 18, 2022, as she approached a man seeking shelter in a tent at Broadview Park in Burnaby, B.C. During the encounter, Yang was tragically killed, and the man in the tent was wounded by her in the ensuing struggle.
The B.C. police watchdog has stated that, following an investigation, there were no grounds to suspect any wrongdoing by an officer in the case. It was revealed that Yang, who had been with the police force for three years prior to her untimely death, specialized in mental health and outreach to the homeless community.