Laval daycare bus attack driver: court grants extension for evaluation on criminal responsibility
Posted March 28, 2023 10:50 am.
Last Updated March 28, 2023 7:11 pm.
The man who faces nine charges in connection with the Laval daycare bus attack that killed two young children, and injured six other children, was back in court on Tuesday.
An extension was granted for an evaluation to be completed on if the suspect, Pierre Ny St-Amand, understands the criminal responsibility of his actions – more psychological evaluations are needed.
He will return to the Philippe-Pinel institute and they have 30 days to complete it. The institute had asked for more time for this evaluation that was initially requested by his lawyer Feb. 24.
St-Amand is expected back in court on April 26.
“They indicated that given the complexity of the file they need more time but what that means unfortunately we don’t have any additional explanations in the letter,” said Crown prosecutor Karine Dalphond.
“He will stay at the Pinel institute to continue the evaluation to allow experts to meet him at their convenience.”
A criminal defence lawyer who is not part of the case says this type of delay is normal.
“It’s the biggest crime that someone can commit in Canada, so for everyone to get it right the judge will grant enough time for ever party to be satisfied,” said Kwadwo Yeboah.
“It’s experts that will determine this case and we’ll see on which side that the judge sides with.”
On Feb. 24, St-Amand was deemed fit to stand trial after a psychiatric evaluation was conducted, but there was a request for an evaluation on criminal responsibility and 30 days had been given for that to be completed.
“To see if at the moment of these infractions he was in his right state of mind, could he tell right from wrong, could he tell his actions,” said Yeboah. “In the criminal code if someone is not in the right state of mind at the moment of the infraction they cannot be held responsible for it.”
St-Amand was charged on Feb. 8 with two counts of first-degree murder charges, and one attempted murder charge for every person who was in the building at the time he drove his Société de transport de Laval (STL) bus into the Garderie Éducative Sainte-Rose on that same day. The 51-year-old also faces charges of aggravated assault.
In court on Tuesday, St-Amand was surrounded by five agents in the courtroom – usually there are maybe two with a detainee. He is said to have seemed more calm than in previous appearances and responded to the judge when called upon.
The accused, Pierre Ny St-Amand, faces many charges including two counts of first-degree murder. (Credit: Facebook/Pierre Ny St-Amand)
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On the day of the bus attack, St-Amand was charged late that same afternoon. He had appeared via video from his hospital bed at Sacré-Coeur. During that hearing, the police officer in the room with St-Amand said the accused hit him because “he was mad” – adding “he is no longer cooperating.”
On the scene of the crash, witnesses said the suspect removed all his clothes and was yelling. A few citizens worked to subdue the man until police arrived. They also helped officers get St-Amand into the police cruiser as they had difficulties with the suspect.
