‘One of the most ill people I’ve seen’: P.E.I. man charged with sexual assault, other offences, found mentally unfit to stand trial
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A P.E.I. man charged with sexual assault and different offences has been discovered mentally unfit to face trial.
“One of the vital sick those who I’ve seen,” mentioned forensic psychiatrist Hygiea Casiano on June 15 in P.E.I. Supreme Court docket in Charlottetown within the matter of Kyle Amelio Champion.
Champion, 33, was scheduled to face trial for sexual assault, forcible confinement and uttering threats allegations from September 2022 involving a feminine complainant. A publication ban is in place stopping the discharge of data that would establish the feminine complainant.
The June 15 courtroom look started with the collection of a 12-person jury to listen to the matter. However earlier than the trial on the costs might start, the jury was tasked with listening to Crown legal professional John Diamond’s utility involving Champion’s psychological health.
Diamond defined to the jury that the Crown has an obligation to verify the trial course of is truthful to each the complainant and the accused.
Psychological well being evaluation
Court docket information present that the psychological well being evaluation was ordered on April 6.
Casiano, who is predicated in Manitoba, assessed Champion by video whereas he was at Hillsborough Hospital.
Casiano decided that Champion was coping with a main psychotic dysfunction that made him mentally unfit to face trial. She defined that the first psychotic dysfunction impaired his capability to successfully talk together with his lawyer and perceive and course of details about his costs and the function of the courtroom.
She described Champion as having a excessive degree of power and being troublesome to interrupt in the course of the evaluation. As nicely, Champion communicated unconnected concepts with grandiose delusions, equivalent to referring to himself as a god. Champion additionally believed that he might talk together with her telepathically, mentioned Casiano.
Casiano added that given the period of time Champion had been in custody, the psychotic signs weren’t the results of latest drug use.
When Justice Jonathan Coady requested defence lawyer Thane MacEachern if he had any questions for Casiano, Champion interrupted and mentioned, “I am good.” MacEachern then declined the chance to query Casiano.
Matter adjourned
The matter was adjourned to June 16 so the jury might obtain directions from Coady after which deliberated in personal. After about an hour, the jury got here again with the unanimous resolution that Champion was not mentally match to face trial.
The jury was excused, and Diamond and Coady addressed the matter and the subsequent steps.
At instances, Champion listened quietly to their submissions. Different instances, he interrupted with profanity-laden rants with references to the Dying Star and the Illuminati. Champion additionally famous that the Pentagon was observing his courtroom proceedings by cameras within the courtroom.
Coady ordered Champion to bear remedy on the Hillsborough Hospital for not more than 60 days in an try to carry him to a psychological state the place he can stand trial. The P.E.I. Felony Code Evaluation Board – an unbiased administrative tribunal established beneath the Felony Code of Canada – will then have a listening to to reassess Champion’s mentally health.
Terrence McEachern is a justice reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and may be adopted on Twitter @terry_mcn.
