Vancouver Information and Newspaper

CALGARY – Charges against a man accused of killing his two children and attempting to kill his wife in their Calgary home have been upgraded to first-degree murder.

James Bing Jun Louie, who was originally charged with second-degree murder, appeared briefly in court Monday via closed circuit television.

He didn’t speak as his lawyer, Noel O’Brien, had the matter put forward to Dec. 14 so he can receive more details about the case.

“We’re not going to try this case in the media,” O’Brien said outside court when asked to comment. “I’m going to wait until I get the facts from the Crown, and, once we get that, we’ll make our assessment in respect to his mental competence and things of that nature.”

The 43-year-old Louie, who is also charged with attempted murder, was remanded in custody.

A 13-year-old boy and his nine-year-old sister were found dead in the family home in northwest Calgary on Friday.

Police say their mother called 911 and was struggling with a suspect when officers arrived. She was taken to hospital, but is now recovering with family.

Officers responding to her call forced their way inside the home when no one answered their knocks or the doorbell. The first thing constables found was the body of the boy.

They continued searching and came upon a man and woman struggling. Police have said they believe the woman would have been killed as well if officers had not been there to intervene.

A subsequent search found the body of the girl.