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Judge Weighs Media Bid to Lift Ban on Fitness-Hearing Evidence in Vancouver Festival Attack Case

The court is considering open-court arguments against protecting the accused’s fair-trial rights.

Overview

  • A publication ban currently bars reporting details from the provincial court fitness hearing until the order is lifted or a future trial concludes.
  • A media consortium represented by lawyer Daniel Coles asked the judge to remove the restriction, citing public interest in coverage that most people cannot witness firsthand.
  • Crown counsel and defence lawyer Mark Swartz urged the court to keep the order, warning disclosure could taint a jury and spread material that may be inadmissible at trial.
  • The ban covers two days of testimony by forensic psychiatrists Dr. Robert Lacroix and Dr. Rakesh Lamba and a drawing the accused made after his arrest.
  • Justice Reginald Harris heard submissions and said he will rule soon, with Adam Kai-Ji Lo due back Friday as the fitness proceedings continue on 11 second-degree murder charges.