More time needed to complete psych assessment for Montreal mother who allegedly abandoned 3-year-old daughter

The Montreal mother accused of abandoning her daughter, who was found alive on June 18 along a highway in Ontario, appeared in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield court Friday via video conference.

Her case was postponed after doctors at the Philippe-Pinel Institute said they need another 30 days to complete her court-ordered psychiatric assessment.

The 34-year-old woman remains detained and will be back in court Sept. 8. She cannot be identified due to a publication ban that protects the identity of herself and her daughter.

The woman had testified on July 4 during her two-day bail hearing. The publication ban also prevents media from publishing or sharing details from the bail hearing in order to guarantee the accused a fair trial.

On July 11, Quebec Court Judge Bertrand St-Arnaud denied her bail and ordered her to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Sûreté du Québec officers were tasked with searching for the three-year-old girl on June 15, sparking a massive police operation that lasted over 72 hours after the accused walked into a business on in Coteau-du-Lac, Montérégie, saying that she had lost her daughter.

The young girl was found three days later on the side of Highway 417 in Ontario near the exit to the town of St. Albert by an Ontario Provincial Police drone.

The mother had been charged on July 3 with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, in addition to the charge of unlawful abandonment of a child that was assigned to her June 16.

The maximum sentence for criminal negligence causing bodily harm is 10 years, while the full penalty for the unlawful abandonment of a child is five years if convicted.

The prosecution told reporters Friday that the psychiatric assessment was ordered by the court to determine whether the accused can be found criminally responsible.

Experts like Montreal-based criminal defence lawyer Kwadwo Yeboah say that the additional time was likely needed to complete a thorough evaluation, but beyond that, much about the case still remains in the air.

“It cant really give us no indication of anything,” Yeboah said. “It’s just that the time needed (is) maybe to conduct more interviews with the person.”

He says in September, both legal teams are expected to review the assessment to determine the next step in proceedings. 

No matter the result of the evaluation, both parties will have the ability to reject the assessment if they deem necessary when court is back in session. The prosecution and defence could alternatively accept the analysis and proceed to trial or acquittal, depending on whether the accused is found criminally responsible by the Philippe-Pinel Institute.

“It will be a battle of experts,” Yeboah said. “Hopefully we hope if both parties come to the conclusion that they accept the assessment — then it will be way shorter.”