Suspect in James North stabbing fit to stand trial
Jury determines Jheidohn Serieaux able to face charges later this year after August 2021 attack
The man charged in a fatal stabbing outside of a downtown Hamilton men’s shelter more than two and a half years ago has been found fit to stand trial.
Jheidohn Serieaux is alleged to have stabbed Christopher Sim just moments after he stepped out of Mission Services on James Street North at Barton Street West around 11:45 a.m. Aug. 8, 2021.
The 31-year-old then stumbled through the parking lot bleeding before collapsing to the ground.
Several people ran to help him, but Sim died of his injuries in hospital less than hour later.
A jury found Serieaux fit to stand trial during a fitness hearing in a Hamilton courtroom Monday, with the proceedings slated to start later this year.
As previously reported by The Spectator, Sim was allegedly ambushed by Serieaux as he walked outside the former men’s shelter — an incident Sgt. Steve Bereziuk likened to a “pure blitz attack.”
Sim had been staying at the shelter. Serieaux was not staying there but had no fixed address and was known to frequent shelters in downtown Hamilton at the time of the stabbing.
Serieaux fled after the stabbing and was arrested in Brantford after nearly two months on the run, and charged with first-degree murder.
Detectives alleged that there had been a fight between Serieaux and Sim outside the shelter shortly before the stabbing. It broke apart and then police allege Serieaux came back and targeted Sim as he walked into the parking lot.
Sim, who was from Hamilton, had been living at the shelter for some time. He struggled with addiction, but had remained loving and loyal to his family, police said.
Bereziuk previously told The Spectator that Sim was a father, son and brother. He had a passion for hockey, which he previously played.
At the time of the homicide, Serieaux was on probation after being convicted of four counts of assault, uttering threats and breaching probation in relation to an April 2021 incident downtown.
A trial start date has not yet been set.