The jury accused of bludgeoning a man to death at a Sherbrooke bar in the summer of 2020 heard the first witnesses Thursday afternoon, which will allow them to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
• Also read: Man beaten to death in Sherbrooke: A jury must decide if the accused is fit to stand trial
Recall that the jury, composed of eight men and six women, must decide whether Kevin Sanders’ mental state allows him to proceed with the trial.
Supreme Court Justice Charles Ouellet informed the jury that the defendant was currently considered fit. “You must set aside the crime he is charged with and decide without prejudice or sympathy if that is still the case,” he added.
You must therefore answer two questions. Does the 28-year-old suspect suffer from a mental disorder? If so, does this mental disorder render him unable to conduct his defense or assist his attorneys in doing so?
Kevin Sanders, who was detained at the Philippe Pinel Institute for Forensic Psychiatry, was examined last week. Among the witnesses is the psychiatrist who examined him.
For the duration of this trial, the judge issued a publication ban to protect the integrity of the pending trial.
The facts accused of Kevin Sanders date back to August 2020. In the midst of a crisis, he is said to have kicked Joël Mailhot at the Urbaine de Sherbrooke tavern. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.
– With information from Jean-François Desbiens – TVA Nouvelles