Court orders admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki to undergo clinical assessment by psychiatrist
CTV
A psychiatrist will conduct a clinical assessment of admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki to determine if he was suffering from a mental disorder when he killed four women.
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A psychiatrist will conduct a clinical assessment of admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki to determine if he was suffering from a mental disorder when he killed four women.
As Skibicki’s trial continued Tuesday, Crown prosecutors asked that their expert psychiatrist be allowed to conduct a mental assessment of the accused to determine whether he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence.
Crown prosecutors argued the assessment is warranted under the Criminal Code of Canada because the accused has put his mental capacity for criminal intent into issue.
The 37-year-old accused has admitted he killed four Indigenous women: Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and a fourth, unidentified woman. Indigenous leaders have given her the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe or Buffalo Woman.
Skibicki has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder. His defence lawyers are arguing he should be found not criminally responsible due to mental illness.
When asked for a response to this request for an assessment, defence counsel Leonard Tailleur told the court he is “naturally opposed,” but could not offer up any legal arguments against the request.
