The accused in connection with last month’s homicide in White Rock appeared in court via video from a forensic psychiatric hospital last week.
Jeffrey Caillé, 22, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 61-year-old Bruce Ridout in the 900-block of Ash Street on Aug. 10. Caillé is also charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm and two counts of assault.
Appearing in Surrey Provincial Court Friday via video feed from Port Coquitlam’s Colony Farm, the accused spoke only to confirm he could hear the judge before his lawyer set another court date for later this month.
Friends of Ridout sat in court watching Caillé’s appearance, eager to see the accused.
Ridout was discovered in his White Rock home following numerous 911 calls from neighbours about a heated altercation.
Police have not released details regarding cause of death, but witnesses say Ridout was stabbed while coming to the defence of a woman.
The longtime Peninsula resident, who was in Semiahmoo Secondary’s class of ’70, was remembered by family and friends in the days following his death, some of whom have posted tributes to him on social media calling his actions that day heroic.
Two women were injured during the incident. Witnesses reported seeing a man attacking a woman on the street outside the residence and, later, knives and other objects being thrown off the balcony.
According to neighbours, the man was smashing the young woman’s head on the pavement before Melissa Brady, a neighbour, yelled at the man and attempted to intervene. She was threatened and allegedly had a knife thrown at her before calling 911.
The attacker went inside the house where Ridout resided and was throwing knives and other objects off the balcony, a police news release stated.
When another neighbour went inside to try to intervene, he discovered Ridout’s body and ran out of the house asking for assistance from someone who knew CPR, neighbours had told Peace Arch News.
According to witnesses, Brady ran in and tried to assist Ridout, but was unable to.
“So sorry for the loss of this wonderful man. I was the woman trying to intervene. I was with Bruce in his last moments. I shall never forget what happened and how senseless this crime was. RIP Bruce. My heart is with you everyday,” Brady posted on Facebook, among other tributes to the popular White Rock resident.
Caillé is next set to appear in Surrey Provincial Court on Oct. 23.