Chau Lam, 56, and Hue Lam, 59, appeared in court late Monday afternoon charged with first-degree murder in their mother’s death. The appearance was postponed as the court tried to find a Vietnamese interpreter for the couple, who appeared together via video. Neither had a lawyer yet. Crown prosecutor Malcolm Savage had sought an order to prevent the sisters from contacting each other, but their counsel Biagio Del Greco told the court he was concerned such an order would “isolate them too much at this point”. Justice of the Peace Sylvie Lapointe instead ordered the two not to communicate about the alleged offense without an attorney present.
The sisters remain in custody
Chau Lam asked if she could ask the court a question through the interpreter. “We don’t have the means or the resources to hire a private attorney, so we’re asking a pro bono attorney to help us,” the interpreter said. Lapointe told her he would discuss it with the service advisor. Both Lam sisters will remain in custody and will return to court next week. The death was first reported shortly after midnight Monday and is being investigated by the homicide unit, Ottawa police said. Officers were called to an address in the 1200 block of Bowmount Street in the Cyrville neighborhood near St. Laurent and on Donald Street, where the woman was found dead. The Homicide Unit is investigating the death of an elderly woman found at an address in the 1200 block of Bowmount St. Two people are in custody. Police were called to the address at 12.25am this morning. Updates will follow. pic.twitter.com/Ghf1MlNKH0 —@OttawaPolice
