UPDATE: Dementia patient has case put off until September
By Nelson Daily Staff
John Furman, a 95-year-old dementia patient who’s been charged with murder, will have his case put off until September after undergoing a mental-health assessment.
Furman was charged with murder after his 85-year-old roommate was killed at a care facilityat the Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
Reports have been circulating in the media that Furman served during the Second World War as a sergeant in the Devil’s Brigade, an elite commando unit made up of Canadian and U.S. soldiers.
He was awarded a Bronze Star medal by the U.S government and had shared his war experiences with Candian veterans archive the Memory Project.
Furman’s lawyer appeared in court on his behalf during Wednesday’s scheduled hearing.
Homicide investigation continues at Vernon Jubilee Hospital
Gord Molendyk spokesperson for the Vernon/North Okanagan RCMP detachment said the Vernon Serious Crime unit is continuing with the Homicide investigation at the Extended Care facility of Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
Sunday a man was killed in the 26-bed Polson Special Care unit of the Vernon Hospital by another patient, John Furman.
Furman made his first appearance yesterday and has been remanded in custody until Wednesday (Aug. 21) on a charge of murder.
The autopsy on the victim is expected to be completed Wednesday. His name is not being released at this time.
The Vernon incident occurred Sunday in a secure dementia area of the Polson Special Care unit around 11 p.m.
The special unit provides care for people whose dementia is complicated by behavioural or psychiatric issues.
Interior Health would only release a statement Monday saying, “Our attention today must be focused on meeting the needs of our other residents and staff as well as responding to the needs of the RCMP.”
The statement goes on to say residents’ safety is IHA’s first priority, that the incident is being taken seriously and that the authority is co-operating fully with RCMP. Interior Health will be doing its own internal investigation.
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