Man accused of killing Abbotsford schoolgirl is unfit for trial, lawyer says

A defence lawyer says his client’s psychosis makes him unfit to stand trial for the murder of a high school girl in Abbotsford.

Martin Peters said Gabriel Klein can’t meaningfully participate in a trial because he has reported hearing voices, has difficulty communicating because of his disordered thinking, and the stress of a trial could cause his mental state to deteriorate further.

Klein is accused of the second-degree murder of 13-year-old Letisha Reimer and the aggravated assault of a second Grade 9 female student who were attacked in the lobby of Abbotsford Senior Secondary in November 2016.

Klein was 21 when he was arrested. He did not speak or respond to questions in his first three court appearances.

“Mr. Klein submits that his inability to meaningfully participate in his trial renders him unfit,” Peters said in B.C. Supreme Court hearing Thursday in New Westminster.

Justice Heather Holmes is expected to rule Friday on whether Klein is mentally fit to face the allegations at trial.

Crown lawyer Rob Macgowan told the judge that the question before the court is this: is it more likely at trial that at times Klein would meet the criteria for being unfit.

“If the court accepts evidence establishing on a balance of probabilities that there will be times during the trial when the accused is not likely fit, the Crown is essentially not opposed to a finding that he is not fit,” Macgowan said.

On Wednesday, Klein’s psychiatrist, Dr. Marcel Hediger, testified that he believes his patient has schizophrenia and is “actively psychotic.”