A man has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 11 years in connection with the 2024 murder of Alexander Lo, brother of Kai-Ji Adam Lo who is accused in a separate case involving a vehicle ramming attack that killed 11 people.
Dwight Kematch Sentencing
Dwight Kematch, 41, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July and acknowledged the “ripple effect” his actions had on the victim’s family during sentencing in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Friday. Kai-Ji Adam Lo listened to the proceedings virtually from a forensic hospital, according to Crown prosecutor Mark Myhre.
Kematch and Lo met through the dating app Grindr, the court heard. The two met at Kematch’s Vancouver house after midnight on Jan. 28, 2024, and went to Kematch’s room where they began to have sex.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Kematch, who was intoxicated, began assaulting Lo with his fists, then a hammer, and finally a knife after “something set him off.” Lo’s roommates, his sister and brother-in-law, heard Lo yelling for help and the attack stopped when the brother-in-law threatened to call the police.
Police arrested Kematch, but Lo was unconscious and could not be revived despite life-saving efforts.
Brutal Offence
Prosecutor Myhre described the offence as “absolutely brutal,” noting Lo was vulnerable due to his smaller stature. He also pointed out that Kematch had a chance to stop the attack when his brother-in-law intervened and removed one of the weapons, but he did not.
Myhre stated Kematch had a criminal record prior to 2004, including convictions for animal cruelty and arson.
Defence lawyer Jim Heller argued Kematch’s life had been marked by tragedy and trauma, including physical and sexual abuse, family deaths, and abandonment, stemming in part from the colonization of Indigenous peoples.
Justice F. Matthew Kirchner agreed with the joint sentencing submission of a life sentence, mandatory for second-degree murder, with eligibility for parole after 13 years minus time served. He described the attack as “truly horrifying” but noted Kematch’s positive conduct while incarcerated.
Victim Impact
In a victim impact statement, Lo’s mother, Lisa, described the physical and emotional trauma caused by her son’s death. She recounted raising her two children as a single mother after her husband died in 2001 and attempting suicide after Lo’s death, requiring three weeks of hospitalization. Her younger son provided support during that time.
Lisa Lo has been diagnosed with depression and is unable to work, leading to financial difficulties. She stated, “I walked around as if everything in my life had collapsed … I am in unbearable pain” and “Because of the offender’s actions, our family has been plunged into endless sorrow.”
Lo’s friend, Richard Hesketh, told the court that Lo, a makeup and special effects student, was kind and full of life, describing him as someone who “lit up a room” and valued his friends.
Apology and Restrictions
Kematch apologized in court, describing his life before January 2024 as filled with “alcoholism and self-hate” and acknowledging his responsibility for the violence. He also acknowledged the alleged Lapu-Lapu Day attack as a “ripple effect” of his actions.
The judge prohibited Kematch from possessing firearms and other prohibited weapons for life.
Kai-Ji Adam Lo is scheduled to appear in court in February regarding the alleged Lapu-Lapu Day attack.
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