Pierre Ny St-Amand expressed excitement at the time of his arrest and during his first appearance via videoconference on the day of the tragedy, February 8th. The police officer who accompanied him to his hospital room had told the court that he had been beaten by the accused.
On Friday morning at the Laval Courthouse, the 51-year-old driver, who had been ordered by the court to appear in person, was ordered by Judge Carol Richer to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which issued an order to that effect under Article 672 of the Penal Code.
Accompanied by four police officers, the accused, who was limping with his eyes closed, appeared disorganized on Friday. For his part, his lawyer, Me Julien Lespérance Hudon, described an unstable, unpredictable client with whom communication varied from day to day – which he said called into question the litigation capacity of the client concerned.
The prosecutor, represented in this case by Me Karine Dalphond, did not contest the defense motion.
“The condition” of the defendant was “very changeable,” said Friday Me Karine Dalphond, Crown Prosecutor, in the filing.
Photo: Radio Canada / Charles Contant
Ny St-Amand faces nine charges: two of first degree murder; one of attempted murder; two for aggravated assault; and four for assault. He will now be transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry Philippe-Pinel in Montreal for evaluation.
The law provides a maximum of five days to complete this type of disability assessment, and the accused will stand trial again next Friday. His lawyer asked him to be physically present again.
Sometimes it’s difficult to meet clients in prison, so […] Bringing him into the courthouse like this makes it easier for me to meet him directly in the courtroom, explained Me Lespérance Hudon as he exited the courtroom.
The latter also warned the press that, depending on the situation, an extension of the five-day period for preparing the evaluation report could be requested.
Enlarge picture (New window)The bus pulled into the daycare parking lot before crashing into the building’s facade.
Photo: Radio Canada / Steve Rompré
The funeral of one of the two minor victims, Jacob Gauthier, was celebrated on Thursday at the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima church. The toddler was only 4 ½ years old.
Last week’s clash also claimed the life of little Maëva David and injured six of the children attending Dufferin Terrace daycare. Details of the girl’s funeral are not yet known.
The tragedy rocked Quebec. On Wednesday, for example, buses from several cities in the province stopped for a minute to pay their respects to the victims.
The day-care centers also hoisted white blankets in front of their facilities in solidarity with the families and educators affected by the tragedy.
More details to come.