A psychiatric assessment determined a Nanaimo man charged with killing a man at Buzz Coffee House on Feb. 12, 2022 is fit to stand trial. (Facebook)

By Ian Holmes

homicide update

Accused Nanaimo coffee shop murderer declared fit to stand trial

Apr 20, 2022 | 12:15 PM

NANAIMO — A man accused of killing an elderly man unknown to him at a Nanaimo Coffee shop has been medically cleared to go on trial.

The confirmation was made during a Wednesday, April 20 court appearance following a month-long in-person psychiatric assessment of James Carey Turok.

He was charged with second degree murder a day after the shocking death of popular Buzz Coffee House employee 79-year-old Eric Kutzner, who was killed at the Rutherford Rd. business on the morning of Feb. 12.

While he’s medically cleared to stand trial, Turok is certified under the Mental Health Act and will remain in custody indefinitely at the Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, court was told.

Vancouver based criminal defence lawyer Mark Swartz told court a significant volume of disclosure recently submitted by Crown counsel needs to be reviewed.

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“Counsel simply needs some time to review that and have some discussions with all parties,” Swartz told the virtually conducted hearing in provincial court in Nanaimo.

The psychiatric assessment was ordered to determine if Turok understands the nature of the court proceedings and possible consequences.

Nanaimo RCMP described the incident as completely random, which took place as the business was about to open for customers on a Saturday morning.

Buzz Coffee House re-opened on March 26 followed a prolonged closure in the wake of Kutzner’s death.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes