Psychiatrist says Levin unfit to stand trial
Sex assault accused suffering from dementia
One-time prominent forensic psychiatrist Dr. Aubrey Levin should not have to go to trial on charges of sexually assaulting 10 patients because he cannot properly understand what is going on, a geriatric psychiatrist testified on Wednesday.
Dr. Lillian Thorpe, who practises at the University of Saskatchewan, told defence lawyer Alain Hepner that Levin is suffering from cogni- tive dementia. She said she cannot rule out that he has some degree of Alzheimer’s disease.
Thorpe said Levin does not understand the details of charges he is facing, cannot remember the witnesses’ names, and thus he would not be able to properly instruct counsel how to challenge allegations in crossexamination.
“It would be grossly unfair for this man to be seen fit to stand trial,” Thorpe testified. “It would be injustice.”
When asked by Crown prosecutor Bill Wister in cross-examination if he understands that he is facing sexual assault charges, Thorpe said she does not believe he does understand and certainly doesn’t know details of the allegations by the individual complainants.
The accused’s wife Erica told court that Aubrey’s mental health has been deteriorating for the past year, in particularly the past several months.
Erica Levin testified during the mental fitness hearing that she believes her husband of 45 years is no longer fully aware of the sexual assault charges.
“The last four or five months, it’s definite. I’ve notice radical changes,” Erica Levin told Hepner.
She said her husband is now very confused, does not drive because it is not safe to do so, mixes up or forgets names of his children, grandchildren, pets, friends and legal counsel. As well, she said, he once was an avid reader and no longer has any interest in reading
Eric Levin said she must drive Aubrey to doctor’s appointments and shopping, and she must ensure that he takes his medicine for various ailments, including diabetes, spinal stenosis, kidney failure, hypertension
and congestive heart failure.