The man accused of trying to kill his estranged wife and setting her house on fire in Langley last week is being kept in custody after his first court appearance.
Andre Harvey Richard, 44, appeared briefly at provincial court in Surrey Monday morning.
He is charged with 13 counts, including assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, arson and multiple counts of attempted murder.
Richard’s lawyer Stephen Price said his client “seems depressed.”
“I have spoken to him very briefly,” Price said. “He’s concerned but beyond that, I don’t know at this point.”
The accused was arrested near Fernie, B.C. during a province-wide manhunt and flown back to Langley on Friday.
Police said his wife Sonia Cella and her teenage daughter were attacked inside their home with a mallet and a jagged instrument April 2. They managed to escape and left a trail of blood leading to a neighbour’s house.
Cella and her daughter were both hospitalized but have since been released. A young boy who was at home during the attack was unharmed.
Neighbour and family friend Danny Ferguson said it’s been an emotional time for the community, which is supporting Cella and her family through a trust fund at CIBC.
“There’s going to be bills that come up, there’s going to be worries, things they will face. I try and think about what would happen if it was my home,” Ferguson said.
The family’s home is unlivable but the Insurance Bureau of Canada said an insurance policy should still stand, despite the circumstances and the fact that Richard is listed on the title as one of the owners.
The IBC said Cella would be protected by its “innocent co-insured provision.”
Donations can be made at CIBC under the name Cella Family Trust Fund, number 46-86632. For more information email connectinglangley@gmail.com.
Richard’s next court appearance is slated for May 12.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Michele Brunoro
