Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki may have a difficult time convincing a choose that he’s not criminally answerable for the deaths of 4 Indigenous ladies, a authorized analyst says.
Skibicki, 37, is on trial for 4 counts of first-degree homicide and has beforehand pleaded not responsible. Via his attorneys, he admitted in courtroom to killing the ladies in Winnipeg, however argues he’s not criminally answerable for the deaths attributable to a psychological dysfunction.
Robert Karrass, a Toronto-based lawyer and authorized analyst, says one of these defence shouldn’t be simple to show.
“They must have fairly a little bit of proof to counsel that not solely is he affected by a psychological dysfunction and that there is a historical past of psychological dysfunction, but in addition that it was affecting his potential to know proper from unsuitable,” he stated.
“It’s actually an uphill battle for him.”
Usually, the accused will bear a forensic psychiatric evaluation to assist decide their psychological state, Karass says. In lots of circumstances, the defence and crown prosecutor every choose a forensic skilled to carry out the evaluate, except they’ll each agree on one.
“Oftentimes it boils all the way down to a battle of the consultants,” Karrass stated.
Brian Pfefferle, a legal defence lawyer primarily based in Saskatoon, has been concerned in a number of circumstances the place the accused argues they aren’t criminally accountable.
The argument is a part of an “extraordinarily advanced space of legislation” that may add delays to the trial within the vary of three months to 1 12 months, in keeping with Pfefferle.
“This can be a course of which completely shouldn’t be a fast-food justice course of. It does take vital time,” he stated.
The jury trial will now be heard by choose alone as a result of complexities and altering nature of the case.
“Now the query shouldn’t be: did he do it? However why did he do it?” Karrass stated.
Skibicki admits to killing Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and an unknown girl, whom Indigenous leaders have named Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe or Buffalo Lady.
Police discovered the partial stays of Contois in a Winnipeg dumpster and landfill in 2022.
Officers consider the stays of Harris and Myran are situated in one other landfill close to Winnipeg. Authorities funding has been devoted to looking the landfill, however a timeline for the search has not been set.
If the choose disagrees with the defence, and finds Skibicki criminally answerable for the deaths, Karrass says the accused might be convicted of homicide.
If he’s deemed not criminally accountable, a evaluate board would resolve the place Skibicki goes subsequent, which may embody spending time in a custodial facility similar to a psychiatric centre.
“His important freedom could be ruled by the evaluate board,” Pfefferle stated.
“The main target could be on public security. So it could be extraordinarily uncommon for somebody dealing with a really, very severe cost to be launched promptly with out circumstances.”
Skibicki’s case is due again in a Winnipeg courtroom on Wednesday when the choose is predicted to dismiss the jury.
