British ColumbiaA judge has reserved his decision on an application to loosen the publication ban on evidence related to Kai-Ji Adam Lo, accused of killing 11 people at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival on April 26.A media consortium is contesting the sweeping ban preventing publication of almost all evidence heard in courtKarin Larsen · CBC News · Posted: Aug 19, 2025 10:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoCourt sketch of Kai-Ji Adam Lo, charged with 11 counts of second-degree murder in a car ramming at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver. (Felicity Don)A judge has reserved his decision on an application to loosen the sweeping publication ban on information presented in court related to Kai-Ji Adam Lo, accused of killing 11 people at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver on April 26.A media consortium, including CBC, is contesting the ban preventing the publication of almost all evidence heard in Lo’s ongoing hearing to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial on murder charges. Lo allegedly drove his SUV into a crowd at the Filipino festival in South Vancouver on April 26 in what is the deadliest vehicle ramming attack in Canadian history. Eleven were killed. Dozens more were injured.At the time of the attack, Lo was under the care of a mental health team from Vancouver Coastal Health and was being supervised under the Mental Health Act.In July, Lo’s fitness trial heard from two expert witnesses who prepared reports on Lo’s personal and psychiatric history. Both are forensic psychiatrists who dealt with statements made by Lo and offered opinions and diagnoses. Dr. Rakesh Lamba testified about a court-ordered assessment and follow-up report he prepared. Dr. Robert Lacroix testified about a separate assessment he conducted on behalf of Lo’s defence.In arguing against the publication ban, counsel for the media consortium said the ban is too broad as to impinge on the open court principle and right to freedom of expression. “If we’re going to abridge freedom of expression, we must do so in a minimally invasive way,” said Daniel Coles. Defence counsel Mark Swartz and Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly argued against the media consortium’s application, saying that altering the ban would risk Lo’s right to a fair trial and taint the jury pool. Lo attended Tuesday’s full-day hearing by video from where he is being held in custody.Judge Reginald Harris has not set a date to render his decision on the media consortium’s application. Lo’s fitness trial resumes Friday in Vancouver provincial court.ABOUT THE AUTHORKarin Larsen is a former Olympian and award winning sports broadcaster who covers news and sports for CBC Vancouver.
Judge weighs bid to amend publication ban in Lapu-Lapu Day festival case
