Calgary clinic stabbing suspect Jin Qing Huang appears in court

The man accused of killing an acupuncturist at a Calgary clinic last week appeared in court Monday afternoon but refused to acknowledge his charge.

Jin Qing Huang is accused of first-degree murder but would not say, througha Cantonese interpreter, whether or not he understood the charge after it was readto him.

"Can I remain silent?" he asked the judge.

"The accused chooses to remain silent," said Judge Jim Ogle.

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Police were called to the Perpetual Wellness Chinese Medical Centre in the Central Landmark building last Thursday where they found acupuncturist TiejunHuang, 51, stabbed to death.

Police say whileHuangand the victim share a surname, they are not related.

Huang has no prior offences. At the time of his arrest, policesaid investigators believe the attack was motivated by the accused's belief that his wife was involved in an inappropriate relationship with the doctor.

The victim has no immediate family in Canada. Paul Hu, with the College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta, said the Consulate General in Calgary is working to bring his relatives over from China.

The association will"provide support with the memorial services, and other support as needed and appropriate," according to Hu,who said a date for a service has not yet been set.

"We are all shocked and saddened by the loss of Dr. Huang," said Hu. "We lost a colleague."

Hu called the stabbing an "isolated incident" and said it's important to wait for information to come out through the court process and avoid speculation.

Duty council lawyerBob Haslam told the court that JinQingHuang is in the process of obtaining a lawyer.

Huang will be back in court on Friday.

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