Mental health assessment ordered

A P.E.I. man has consented to a mental health assessment in a case that saw the Crown call for health officials to be subpoenaed and brought before the court.

John Tyson Boudreault, 23, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court Monday the day before a hearing was scheduled to deal with the matter of the accused’s criminal responsibility and fitness to stand trial. Boudreault is facing multiple charges, including several counts of assault.

During Monday’s proceedings, Douglas ordered a new mental health assessment after hearing about Boudreault’s recent hospitalization during which a psychiatrist determined he needed anti-psychotic medication.

Boudreault previously exhibited behaviour that has been described in court as bizarre.

During a previous appearance before Douglas, the court heard Boudreault attacked an 82-yearold stranger who needed to be hospitalized.

In another incident, Boudreault went into a dwelling and took a shower while one of the residents was in bed.

Douglas previously ordered a mental health assessment, but the Crown and defence both raised concerns about the quality of a report prepared at the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Nova Scotia after a psychiatrist there met with Boudreault for half an hour.

P.E.I. has a memorandum of understanding with the hospital to perform court-ordered mental health assessments, but the facility has refused to do them in some cases because of capacity issues.

Because of problems getting assessments done, Health P.E.I. hired two forensic psychiatrists to perform them as needed, but one of those doctors has since resigned.

After raising concerns about the delays during a court appearance in October, Crown attorney John Diamond sought to have several Health P.E.I. officials subpoenaed, including CEO Denise Lewis Fleming.

A two-day hearing was scheduled for this week but didn’t go ahead after the new assessment order.

Since Boudreault’s court appearance in October, he was taken to hospital in P.E.I. after having a seizure.

Boudreault also reported having hallucinations and was given an injection of anti-psychotic medication.

During previous court appearances, Boudreault opposed a request for an assessment, saying he didn’t like talking to psychiatrists and calling himself a “vigilante toward them”.

On Monday, the court heard Boudreault consented to an assessment being performed, although he requested that it not be done at the East Coast Forensic Hospital.

Diamond also voiced concern about the facility, saying it’s not an appropriate place to send anyone.

Douglas ordered the assessment but told Boudreault he couldn’t direct where it would be completed.

Boudreault’s case was also called later in the day before Chief Judge Nancy Orr on two assault charges.

He did not appear before Orr, but his lawyer told the court Boudreault was being transported to the Hillsborough Hospital.

Boudreault’s next appearance before Douglas is scheduled for Dec. 19.