Afghan vet’s friend says anti-malarial drug may have sparked violence

The homicidal tendencies of a former Canadian soldier who killed his girlfriend and himself in their new Nova Scotia home last week could be linked to a drug he was required to take before serving in Afghanistan, a close friend says.

Jason Hill, a longtime friend of Marc Poulin’s, said Sunday he was aware Poulin was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing three tours of duty in the war-torn country.

However, Hill said Poulin had also complained to him about the rageinducing side-effects of an anti-malarial drug he had taken prior to his initial deployment in 2003.

“I know he mentioned drugs and shots before going that he believed affected him,” Hill said in an interview from his home in Callander, Ont.

Last Friday, the Nova Scotia RCMP confirmed that the deaths of 42-yearold Poulin and 45-year-old Jennifer Lynne Semenec were the result of a murder-suicide.

Both were originally from North Bay, Ont., and had recently moved to rural Springhill, N.S. Their bodies were recovered last Tuesday from a house they had recently purchased and were renovating. Police said the two-storey home had been damaged by a fire they considered suspicious.

Hill stressed that before his friend joined the military in 1999, he was known for his charismatic smile, fearless nature, athletic prowess in hockey and football, and an enduring willingness to help others.

“He was a hero beforehand,” he said, recalling how Poulin routinely helped older neighbours with their groceries and once stepped in to rescue a female neighbour from being beaten.

“I said, ‘Hey, someone needs help,’ and before I was even done talking, he was running to get the guy,” Hill said. “He was always smiling and he held his head high. He had a lot of confidence.”

Shane MacDonald, a cousin and close friend of the former infantryman, said relatives believe Poulin’s PTSD was “the critical factor” behind his behaviour.

“There was a treatment plan in place that did identify PTSD,” MacDonald said in an interview Sunday, citing a 2013 document. “I saw the paperwork on Friday.”