Family of Slain Mountie Says Justice System Failed Them After Suspect Found Unfit for Trial

RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang is seen in this undated RCMP handout photo. The Canadian Press/HO, B.C. RCMP

The family of slain RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang says a judge’s ruling that the suspect is unfit for trial reflects a “systemic failure” in the justice system.

Jongwon Ham is accused of fatally stabbing Yang in October 2022. In January 2026, the B.C. Supreme Court ordered a mental health assessment to determine whether he was fit to stand trial, with the evaluation later extended over additional days.

A formal fitness hearing was held in March, and on April 20, Justice Michael Tammen ruled that Ham is unfit to stand trial. The judge found that Ham’s delusions would prevent him from making rational decisions or meaningfully participating in the court process.

During the proceedings, defence lawyer Caroline Senini told the court that Ham had expressed a desire to be found fit for trial and denied experiencing delusions.

Following the ruling, Yang’s family provided a victim-impact statement describing her death as leaving them “irrevocably shattered.” The statement had been prepared for presentation at the fitness hearing but was ultimately not entered into the proceedings and was instead released to The Canadian Press through the National Police Federation.

In the statement, the family said they do not dismiss the challenges faced by individuals with mental health conditions, but warned that “compassion that is institutionally directed toward only one party creates a profoundly dangerous imbalance.”

In a separate statement released Tuesday by the federation, Yang’s aunt, Shilin Yang, said the family felt it was important to share Shaelyn’s story and the impact of her loss, adding that they have been “left without a voice.”

The court’s finding of unfitness does not conclude the criminal case. Instead, Ham will remain under the supervision of the province’s forensic mental health system and will be periodically reviewed to assess whether he may eventually become fit to stand trial.

“If the accused is deemed unfit in perpetuity, Shae’s case will be effectively suspended forever — never to be recorded or resolved within the judicial system,” Shilin Yang wrote.

At the time of her death, Yang, 31, was part of the Burnaby RCMP’s mental health and homeless outreach team. She and a city worker had been attending to Ham, who was inside a tent at Broadview Park and unresponsive.

Police say Yang entered the tent to administer naloxone after concerns Ham may have been overdosing. He then responded, and an altercation ensued during which Ham allegedly stabbed Yang in the chest. Yang managed to fire her service weapon before losing consciousness. She was later transported to hospital, where she died from her injuries. Ham sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.