The person charged in two stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver, which left one man dead and another seriously hurt, appeared in court briefly on Wednesday.
Brendan Colin McBride, 34, appeared for less than a minute via video from the North Fraser Pre Trail Centre.
He was wearing a red prison sweatshirt and appeared clean-cut and coherent.
McBride was asked to state his full name and birthdate to the judge. He looked into the camera and answered those questions as requested.
He is charged with murder and aggravated assault.
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Francis David Laporte was killed near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre around 7:45 a.m., on Sept. 4, just minutes after the same attacker allegedly severed a 56-year-old man’s hand a few blocks away.
Police have since confirmed doctors were able to reattach the victim’s hand, but say he will likely have lasting physical and psychological trauma.
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McBride, of White Rock, was on probation at the time, related to an assault conviction in that city, and his record includes a previous guilty plea for assault causing bodily harm.
This case and others were the catalysts for calls to reopen a facility like Riverview to help treat those with severe mental illness and addiction.
That translated into an announcement from Premier David Eby to update involuntary care in B.C. with a plan to treat people in secure settings like Alouette Correctional Centre and the Surrey Pretrial Center.
Vancouver police say McBride is severely mentally ill and had more than 60 interactions with officers.
He will remain in custody pending his next court appearance, which is also expected to be via video link on Oct. 4.
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