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British Columbia man accused of killing Burnaby RCMP is without a lawyer
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British Columbia man accused of killing Burnaby RCMP is without a lawyer

Jongwon Ham was scheduled to stand trial for murder in November after fatally stabbing the RCMP constable. Shaelyn Yang.

British Columbia man charged in 2022 death of Burnaby RCMP officer is seeking new lawyer to handle murder case as well as assault and resisting charges ‘arrest.

Vancouver Provincial Court Judge James Sutherland was told July 18 that “comprehensive resolution” discussions were underway to end Jongwon Ham’s assault and resistance trial.

However, this is now in limbo. Ham told Judge John Milne on October 25 that he no longer had a lawyer.

“Previous lawyers have been confidential,” Crown prosecutor Justine Jarvis told Milne.

Milne asked Ham if he wanted a lawyer.

“No, but I called lawyers,” Ham said.

When asked by Milne if he had a lawyer in mind, Ham replied: “I’m not supposed to say that in court right now.” »

“You had a lot of lawyers who didn’t work for you,” Milne said. “I don’t know the reason.”

Ham said he had until Nov. 18 to find a lawyer for the murder case in British Columbia Supreme Court and asked Milne to adjourn his case until that date.

The judge set the next appearance for November 19, when the accused will have to enter pleas to the charges.

“If you don’t have an attorney, we’re going to take this matter to trial,” Milne said.

“One case is 1,300 days old,” Milne said. “These things need to move forward.”

The accused faces several charges

Ham remains in custody after being charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 18, 2022, fatal shooting of Const. Shaelyn Yang while on duty at Broadview Park near the Burnaby-Vancouver border.

The 31-year-old officer accompanied a City of Burnaby parks employee to the park to tell a man who was staying in a tent to leave.

An altercation ensues and Yang is fatally stabbed. His alleged attacker was shot but survived his injuries.

Prior to these alleged events, there are three other allegations against Ham.

On February 15, 2021, he allegedly assaulted a man in Vancouver and then resisted arrest. He allegedly committed another assault against a man in Vancouver on March 17, 2022.

The BC Prosecution Service earlier confirmed that Ham would receive pre-trial motions in the BC Supreme Court from October 7 to 25.

The judge-alone murder trial was scheduled to take place from November 12 to December 20.

It’s unclear whether Ham’s inability to find an attorney will disrupt trial dates.