A White Rock man charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with the Sept. 4 homicide in Vancouver of a senior and an assault that resulted in a man having his hand severed made another court appearance Oct. 4.
Brendan Colin McBride appeared by video before Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Jennifer Lopes.
He is being represented by veteran defence lawyer Patrick McGowan, who had Alex Khamdamov appearing for him. Prosecutor Rhianydd Bellis represented the Crown.
Lopes heard the Crown continues to provide case disclosure to the defence.
As McBride’s lawyers will need time to review the material, the case has been adjourned until Oct. 25.
McBride, who appeared by video, remains in custody.
Francis David Laporte
The case involves a morning attack on a 56-year-old man near Cathedral Square. Vancouver police found the man bleeding from his head with his hand severed.
Minutes later and less than 350 metres away, another man was attacked at West Georgia and Hamilton streets.
Francis David Laporte, 70, was identified as the man killed.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has confirmed the man whose hand was severed was able to have it reattached at the hospital.
Police have said they believe both incidents were unprovoked stranger attacks.
McBride was on probation from a 2023 assault in White Rock at the time of the attacks,
VPD Chief Adam Palmer said earlier that McBride is a very troubled man who has a history of mental health-related incidents, "which have resulted in more than 60 documented contacts with police throughout Metro Vancouver."
