More tests for man accused of killing acupuncturist
The suspect in the slaying of a city acupuncturist at his clinic will undergo further psychological testing, a judge ordered Wednesday.
Defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli told provincial court Judge Catherine Skene that staff at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre need another 30 days to complete their assessment of Jin Qing Huang.
Huang, 42, is charged with firstdegree murder in the June 16 stabbing death of Tiejun Huang, 51, (no relation) at the victim’s Crescent Heights Chinese medical clinic.
“You have a letter requesting a further 30-day extension for the completion of a fitness report,” Iovinelli told Skene.
The judge noted the letter said doctors were still in the process of assessing Huang and sought the extension as a result, something to which the accused was not opposed.
Iovinelli asked that the case be returned to court on Aug. 26, when a doctor from the psychiatric centre would be at court for routine prisoner exams.
“The doctor would be here if there’s further concerns,” he noted.
Outside court, the lawyer said the extension may be an indication his client has serious mental-health issues.
“Often, we have it come back even within that (first) 30 days to say fitness is not a concern,” Iovinelli said of cases that quickly determine there are no mental-health problems.
But he said that even if Huang has some mental-health issues, it may not mean he is unfit to stand trial.
“The question is whether or not that affects the person’s ability to instruct counsel, or appreciate the process,” he said.
Huang was charged after police said a man went to the clinic the afternoon of June 16 to confront a medical practitioner he believed was having a relationship with his wife. If deemed unfit to stand trial, Huang would be hospitalized until, and if, he was deemed fit.