The family of a pastor in British Columbia killed in a fiery accident calls for reforms to the province’s judicial system in cases involving mental health.
Pastor Tom Cheung was killed in May 2019 when another vehicle struck its mini-duties in a range of borders.
Washington’s state resident Gurbinder Singh, 40, pleaded not guilty of dangerous driving causing death, but in April, judge of the provincial court Daniel Weatherly rejected the accusation, judging that his mental state had been deeply altered at the time of the collision.
The court had heard that Singh had been certified under the Mental Health Act after the collision and had undergone a mental health crisis the day before the accident.
Cheung family called him a huge injustice.
“He killed my husband,” said Athens Cheung, the victim’s widow, to Global News. “It’s so injured for my family.”
Cheung’s family said the decision showed how deeply broken the system.
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“The RRC officer managing the case changed twice,” said Salomon Cheung, Tom’s son.
“The prosecutor has also changed suddenly. And that tells me that in the eyes of the government, really, the death of my father, my suffering family is just a minor drawback for them.
“In their eyes, we are the metaphorical box which is being launched on the road.”
The family said they had been exhausted by the entire process, which lasted almost six years.
“For me, this mental health law is only a giant facade,” said Solomon.
“It does not help victims suffering from mental health problems. It’s just the use of the shield for criminals.”
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