.jpg;w=120;h=120;mode=crop){kind=avatar}
The Crown’s case against the man accused of second-degree murder following a knife attack in Lynn Valley that left one woman dead will proceed by a direct indictment in B.C. Supreme Court.
Yannick Bandaogo, 28, also faces charges of five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated assault in relation to stabbings of seven people that occurred at the Lynn Valley Village library complex on March 27.
Crown prosecutor Jean-Benoit Deschamps indicated Thursday the case will move directly to B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster, skipping a preliminary hearing stage in provincial court.
The prosecution can opt for direct indictment in certain circumstances, such as when a preliminary hearing might result in undue delay in the case or present logistical challenges because of the complexity of the case.
In the Lynn Valley case, the volume of evidence, number of potential witnesses and fact that most of the evidence will be translated into French were all factors in the decision, said Deschamps outside of court.
On March 27 just before 1:40 p.m., the North Vancouver RCMP received a report of multiple victims of a stabbing at Lynn Valley Village. When officers arrived at the scene, they found multiple victims in and around the library complex, suffering from stab wounds. One woman later died of her injuries.
Homicide investigators said earlier they don't know what motivated the knife attack.
Bandaogo was charged with second-degree murder on March 28 and additional charges were sworn against him in September.
Bandaogo has been held in custody since his arrest on the day of the attack, making court appearances by video.
He has not yet entered a plea to any charges.
Bandaogo also faces a charge of assaulting a peace officer on May 6, while he was in custody at North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre.
Bandaogo’s first appearance in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster – where all French language trials are heard – is scheduled for Dec. 2.
