Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Court appearance for man charged in doctor killing

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Aug, 2020 08:37 PM
  • Court appearance for man charged in doctor killing

A man accused of killing a family doctor at a walk-in clinic in central Alberta appeared confused at his first court appearance Wednesday, telling a judge that he doesn't remember and is sick.

Deng Mabiour of Red Deer, Alta., is charged with first-degree murder in Monday's death of 45-year-old Dr. Walter Reynolds, as well as other offences.

The 54-year-old appeared via a video link but wasn't able to tell the judge if he understood the charges laid against him.

"Listen to me. I don't remember anything because I'm sick. I want a doctor," Mabiour, with a heavy accent, told provincial court Judge Bert Skinner.

"I'm telling you I didn't remember anything because I am sick."

Skinner ordered the duty counsel to speak with Mabiour by phone. The charges were then read a second time.

"Did you understand the charges?" asked the judge.

"No, I didn't understand," Mabiour replied. "Because I am sick. I lost memory. Listen to me, I don't remember. I want a doctor."

Mabiour continued talking as the judge and lawyers spoke.

Skinner said a first-degree murder charge that goes to trial is automatically put before a jury.

The case was put over to Sept. 9.

RCMP have said the attack was not random and the two men knew each other through the clinic. They have not said if Mabiour was a patient, citing confidentiality.

Officers received a 911 call reporting an assault in progress at the Village Mall Walk-in Clinic just after 11 a.m. Monday. Mounties arrived within minutes.

One witness told media that she heard cries for help and a man in the clinic had a hammer and a machete.

Mabiour was arrested at the scene. Reynolds was rushed to hospital, where he died.

"In 27 years of policing, I've never seen a doctor attacked like that," RCMP Supt. Gerald Grobmeier said at a news conference Tuesday.

Dr. Peter Bouch works at a different Red Deer clinic but said that both he and Reynolds had moved to Canada from South Africa. He said the death is a shock to many in the medical community.

A vigil for Reynolds has been planned for Friday night at city hall.

MORE National ARTICLES

Rigorous private school plans show education inequities

Rigorous private school plans show education inequities
With children in both public and private schools, Toronto mom Karuna Satov is weighing two very different back-to-school pandemic plans.

Rigorous private school plans show education inequities

Return to B.C. classrooms pushed back

Return to B.C. classrooms pushed back
British Columbia's education minister says students won't be back in classrooms on the originally planned date of Sept. 8.

Return to B.C. classrooms pushed back

Ottawa launches revised CEWS calculator

Ottawa launches revised CEWS calculator
The federal government has launched an updated calculator to help employers estimate what help they might receive from the next phase of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Ottawa launches revised CEWS calculator

Aid to Lebanon a signal of long-term help: Gould

Aid to Lebanon a signal of long-term help: Gould
Canada's decision to increase its humanitarian aid to Lebanon recognizes the country already faced significant turmoil before last week's explosion and will need long-term support, International Development Minister Karina Gould said Tuesday.

Aid to Lebanon a signal of long-term help: Gould

Man charged with murder of doctor

Man charged with murder of doctor
RCMP say a fatal attack on a doctor at a busy walk-in clinic in central Alberta was targeted and pre-planned.

Man charged with murder of doctor

WE Charity scrutiny sufficient, PCO clerk says

WE Charity scrutiny sufficient, PCO clerk says
Canada's top public servant says federal officials did not probe WE Charity's financial situation or governance structure when doing homework on a deal with the charity to administer a pandemic student grant program.

WE Charity scrutiny sufficient, PCO clerk says