Senior now facing manslaughter charge in deadly fire

An unexplained medical issue on Monday kept a Calgary senior from appearing in court on an upgraded charge of manslaughter in connection with a deadly care facility fire.

Robert Eyre was to attend provincial court via closed-circuit TV from the Calgary Remand Centre, but when his case was called a sheriff told court that nursing staff was dealing with a medical issue and the accused couldn’t be brought to the video room.

A short time later the sheriff told Judge Gord Wong the accused would not be able to appear and was being removed from the CCTV area.

Defence lawyer Vince Semenuk appeared on behalf of Eyre and told court the senior’s family was in the process of trying to retain counsel for him.

Eyre, 78, was initially charged with arson causing bodily harm in connection with an April 27 early morning blaze at the Wentworth Manor on 14 Avenue S.W. which sent fellow resident John Bannatyne to hospital.

A month later police announced that Bannatyne had died and the matter was now being investigated as a homicide.

Wong told both Semenuk and Crown prosecutor Tom Buglas that Eyre was medically unable to appear in court.

Semenuk asked that the case be adjourned to Friday to allow Eyre to attend via video link.

Court earlier heard that an assessment by Dr. Yuri Metelitsa determined the dementia-suffering accused is medically unfit to stand trial.

Semenuk said a hearing will have to be conducted to determine if Eyre meets the legal test for such a finding.

Wong ordered Eyre returned to the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in the interim.