The trial of the man accused of driving his vehicle through the crowded Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver last April is set to move to the B.C. Supreme Court.
Adam Kai-Ji Lo, who appeared at a provincial court hearing via video in a navy sweat suit, is facing 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 charges of attempted murder.
During the hearing, Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly mentioned that the Crown is leaning towards a direct indictment for the case, bypassing preliminary hearings where evidence can be tested, pending approval from the provincial attorney general.
Lo’s first appearance in the Supreme Court is scheduled for Feb. 11, following a ruling in September where a provincial court judge deemed him fit to stand trial.
In an interesting turn of events, the Filipino BC community group announced plans to hold the 2026 festival in Vancouver this April, nearly a year after the tragic incident, citing the event as crucial for collective healing.
The attack sparked safety assessments for future community events, resulting in reports from both the city and the province. The B.C. government report suggested various measures to prevent similar incidents, such as conducting risk assessments for events of all sizes and establishing a centralized training and support hub.
City officials in Vancouver confirmed that their safety review categorized the Lapu Lapu festival as low risk, with no prior indications of it being a potential target for a vehicle attack.
Furthermore, some victims from the incident have initiated a proposed class-action civil lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court. The lawsuit claims that Lo had been diagnosed with schizophrenia prior to the attack and had requested a reduction in his antipsychotic medication despite his declining mental health. The City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health authority, and Lo are all named as defendants in the lawsuit.