Hearing into criminal responsibility to continue in September

A hearing into whether a Halifax woman should be held criminally responsible for her actions is now to continue in September.

Karin Tara Sorenson, 47, is facing several offences that are alleged to have occurred here in Cape Breton, which arose from the evacuations of two public buildings — a retail store and the Sydney Justice Centre.

A psychiatric assessment has concluded that Sorenson should not be held criminally responsible for her actions because of a mental illness. A similar opinion also has been filed by a psychiatrist for the defence who also examined the accused.

A provincial court judge has begun hearing evidence in the case and that process is now to continue Sept. 14.

Sorenson continues to be on remand, pending the outcome of the hearing.

Sorenson was first arrested in Cape Breton after being found wandering in and out of traffic in Groves Point on April 5.

She was released on conditions but was soon back behind bars after she is alleged to have armed herself with a knife and barricaded herself in a shelving unit at Home Depot resulting in an evacuation.

The following week, while still in custody, she is alleged to have triggered a sprinkler head inside the Sydney Justice Centre prompting another brief evacuation of a public building.

She has also refused to talk with lawyers about her case, has demanded a human rights lawyer be appointed to her case and further claimed she was on a hunger strike.

She is charged with four counts of breaching court orders and single counts of possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose and causing a disturbance.