Man accused of killing doctor says he has memory loss
Red Deer man tells court he’s sick, doesn’t understand murder charge
RED DEER A man accused of killing a family doctor at a walk-in clinic in central Alberta appeared confused at his first court appearance Wednesday, saying he doesn’t remember and is sick.
Deng Mabiour, 54, of Red Deer faces a charge of first-degree murder in Monday’s death of 45-yearold Dr. Walter Reynolds, as well as charges for assaulting another doctor and a police officer. Reynolds was attacked inside an examination room at the Village Mall Walk-in Clinic Monday morning, witnesses say.
Mabiour 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. The RCMP has said the killing was not a random attack, and that Mabiour and Reynolds knew each other through the clinic.
A spokesperson for Red Deer Primary Care Network has said Mabiour was a patient.
A witness told Postmedia she heard the doctor crying for help inside the examination room, and she saw a bloodied hammer fly out the front of the clinic as police ordered a suspect inside to put down a machete.
Police arrested Mabiour at the scene and Reynolds was rushed to hospital, where he died.
Meantime, a fundraiser for Reynold’s widow created by a family friend had grown to more than $180,000 by Wednesday
Listen to me. I don’t remember anything because I’m sick. I want a doctor. I’m telling you I didn’t remember anything because I am sick.
afternoon, reaching far past its $20,000 goal.
A vigil honouring Reynolds’ memory, organized by a popular local Facebook page, is set for Friday in Red Deer at City Hall Park at 7 p.m.
The group is also promoting daily vigils outside the clinic between 11 a.m. to noon for the span of the week.