UPDATE: Klein’s case has been moved back to the Abbotsford Provincial Court for a video-link hearing on Dec. 1. Klein had a legal aid today, but expects to have a lawyer in place for the next hearing. The judge has once again advised Klein he should be speaking with a lawyer.
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A 21-year-old man facing charges in connection with the fatal stabbing at an Abbotsford school earlier this month is back in court.
Gabriel Brandon Klein faces one charge each of second-degree murder and aggravated assault linked to what police have said was a random attack that killed Grade 9 student Letisha Reimer, 13, and injured another girl. The identity of the second girl is protected under a publication ban.
Klein has consistently refused to speak in court. He hasn’t spoken with counsel nor responded to questions put to him during any of his previous court appearances. He often appeared in a wheelchair, naked and covered in a blanket. Klein also refused to leave his cell to appear in court in person during his first appearance.
FULL COVERAGE: Abbotsford Senior Secondary School stabbing
Crown said Klein is not currently certified under the Mental Health Act. He was certified after he was arrested, but a psychologist de-certified him the day after the deadly stabbing attack.
Duty counsel said in court on Nov. 9, he has not asked for a fitness assessment because he is unable to get instructions from Klein, who is not talking. He is presumed to be mentally fit, however, and has been to hospital twice.
There is little known about Klein’s background, but police do know he is originally from Alberta. He has allegedly been in Vancouver since February or March of this year, but has no fixed address. The Integrated Homicide Investigations Team (IHIT) took the unusual step in the days after the stabbing of releasing Klein’s photo to the public in the hopes of finding out more about him.
A former friend of Klein’s spoke to Global News after the attack, saying he was “completely shocked” when he heard about Klein’s arrest, as he never displayed any anger before.
READ MORE: Former Alberta friend of accused in Abbotsford, BC stabbing says he was ‘typical high school kid’
Global News will update this story when more details become available.
With files from the Canadian Press, Rumina Daya and Amy Judd
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