A man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 11 years for the 2024 murder of Alexander Lo, the brother of Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who is connected to the Lapu-Lapu Day car-ramming incident that resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals. Dwight Kematch, aged 41, admitted to second-degree murder in July and expressed remorse for the impact the killing had on Lo’s brother during his sentencing in the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.
Kematch and Lo met through the dating app Grindr and got together at Kematch’s residence in Vancouver after midnight on January 28, 2024. Despite initially engaging in consensual activities, Kematch, under the influence of alcohol, turned violent towards Lo, attacking him with his fists, a hammer, and a knife. Kematch’s sister and brother-in-law, residing in the same house, intervened when they heard Lo’s cries for help, prompting Kematch to halt the assault upon their insistence to call the police.
Crown prosecutor Mark Myhre highlighted the brutal nature of the offense, emphasizing Kematch’s failure to cease the attack when given the chance. Both the prosecution and defense advocated for a life sentence for Kematch due to the severity of the crime, with the possibility of parole after 13 years minus time served. Despite Kematch’s troubled past, including previous criminal convictions, the judge deemed the proposed sentence appropriate, acknowledging Kematch’s potential for rehabilitation based on his behavior while incarcerated.
The victim’s mother, Lisa, detailed the profound impact of her son’s murder on her mental and physical well-being, leading to depression and financial struggles. Friends and family members also shared their grief over Lo’s tragic death, lamenting the loss of his vibrant personality and the devastation caused by the incident. Kematch, expressing remorse and taking responsibility for his actions, apologized for the pain he inflicted on the victim’s family and acknowledged the far-reaching consequences of his violence.
The judge imposed restrictions on Kematch, prohibiting him from possessing firearms and certain weapons indefinitely. Meanwhile, Kai-Ji Adam Lo is set to face court proceedings in February related to the Lapu-Lapu Day incident.