WARNING: This story comprises graphic details and is just not suitable for all readers
The person accused of killing an elderly Vancouver couple in 2017 told police at his interrogation that he would relatively be playing video games than talk concerning the alleged crimes.
Video of the interrogation was played on the trial for Rocky Rambo Wei Nam Kam on Thursday, after defence and Crown argued over whether it ought to be allowed into evidence.
Kam has pleaded not guilty to 2 counts of first-degree murder within the brutal slayings of 68-year-old Richard Jones and 64-year-old Dianna Mah-Jones, whose bodies were present in their home near West sixty fourth Avenue and Hudson Street on Sept. 27, 2017.
Defence is constructing a case that Kam was obsessive about violent video games, and thought he was in one in all those games while affected by a mental disorder on the time of the murders.
Kam’s lawyers argued the eight-hour video of the interrogation, which was held 47 days after the killings, was “one other example of him slipping right into a fantasy or game.”
Crown argued that the video is just not relevant to the trial, as there was no evidence Kam was in an altered way of thinking through the interrogation.
But Madam Justice Gerow ultimately allowed the video to be played in voir dire — a trial inside the trial to find out whether it’s going to be admissible as evidence.
Within the video, which was played to the court only, Kam appears almost embarrassed when he tells the officer he doesn’t like his name, but it surely’s what his parents gave him.
Kam says, “I need to play video games” and asks if his cell may have a mattress. The accused tells the officer he was surprised when he was arrested.
“What’s your understanding of why you’re here?” the officer asks Kam, who makes it clear he understands he’s been arrested for murder.
When the officer asks if Kam knew the victims, Kam replies, “No.”
“Have you ever ever been arrested before, Rocky?” the officer asks.
“No,” Kam replies.
Kam repeatedly tells the officer he has nothing to say when she pushes him concerning the killings.
The judge will rule on whether to permit the video into evidence once she views all eight hours.
Thursday marked the third day of testimony for Kam, who described the killings intimately to the court Tuesday. He said he used a hatchet and pocket knife purchased at Canadian Tire on his victims.
On Wednesday, defence counsel Faisal Alamy created his own Skyrim character to point out the court how one in all Kam’s favourite games works. The web game allows players to advance levels once they commit violent killings.
Kam gave a play-by-play of the sport’s different levels while Alamy played, even laughing barely when his lawyer struggled to kill a female character.
The 29-year-old told the court he was spending 15 hours a day playing video games and reading comics on his computer after he moved from Calgary to Vancouver in the summertime of 2017.
Defence says the attack was random, there isn’t a motive, and Kam doesn’t have a violent history.
The one logical explanation appears to be that the accused thought he was in a video game when he killed the couple, in line with defence.
The court has previously seen video evidence that the Crown says shows Kam buying the hatchet together with a baseball cap and gloves, about two weeks before the murder. Crown has said the items were purchased with the intent to kill someone.
Kam has admitted buying the items, but it surely is unclear why he did.
A DNA expert has also testified that Mah-Jones’ blood was found on the within hinge of Kam’s glasses and his DNA was found under Maj-Jones’ fingernails.
Kam’s trial took a several month break in October when the judge agreed to adjourn when the defence asked for more time to acquire psychiatric evidence for the accused.
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