Man with autism admits to fatally stabbing father as murder trial begins

A second-degree murder trial got underway Monday for a Calgary man with autism who admits he killed his father five years ago.

Vincent Fong, now 41, was living with his parents and required a support worker. 

On Jan. 9, 2019, Fong fatally stabbed his father in the throat. 

The trial is set to last a week and got underway Monday before a jury. 

While Fong has admitted to killing his father, 70-year-old Kwan Fong, jurors are tasked with determining his intent at the time.

Prosecutor Margot Engley opened the Crown's case reading details of the crime from an agreed statement of facts.

'I think I hurt my dad'

Vincent Fong's support worker was a woman named Lone Jensen who'd known him for about two years. She would take Vincent on activities outside the home three or four times a week. 

On the day of the killing, Jensen took him to a gym and then to a program for people with disabilities.

She dropped off Vincent at home around 1 p.m., telling his father he'd had a good day. 

About 45 minutes later, Vincent called Jensen.

'I think I hurt my dad," he told her. 

Past conflict

Vincent then stated he believed his father was dead. 

Jensen called 911 and drove to the Fong home.

There, she found Kwan Fong lying in a pool of blood. Vincent was standing on the stairs.

Vincent, who did not like his English lessons, told Jensen: "I don't have to do English now on Wednesday." 

In a later interview with police, Jensen said there was a history of past conflict between the father and son. 

Vincent wanted to move out of the family home but told Jensen his father wouldn't let him.

Agitated, asked to go home

On one occasion, Vincent told Jensen that he wanted to throw his father in front of a CTrain. 

When these types of threats occurred, Jenson would tell Vincent's mother that he was unhappy and suggested they make plans for him to move out. 

Vincent was arrested at home and brought to police headquarters.

In her cross-examination of one of the arresting officers, defence lawyer Katherin Beyak confirmed Vincent was agitated at the time of his arrest. 

The officer confirmed that Vincent was moving chairs and garbage bins at the police station and asked if he could go home. 

An autopsy determined that Kwan died from multiple stab wounds to the neck.