Woman accused in fatal Path stabbing found unfit to stand trial
Posted December 5, 2017 12:48 pm.
Last Updated August 1, 2018 10:58 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A lawyer for a woman charged in an apparently unprovoked fatal stabbing in Toronto’s financial district says his client has been declared unfit to stand trial.
Rohinie Bisesar faces a charge of first-degree murder for fatally stabbing Rosemarie Junor on Dec. 11, 2015, while Junor was shopping in the downtown Toronto Path concourse.
On Monday, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Ian Swayze told the court that Bisesar is “acutely unwell” and that she suffers from delusions and hallucinations.
The Crown on Monday said the court shouldn’t prosecute someone who is mentally unfit to stand trial.
Bisesar took the stand Monday, telling the court she does not have a mental disorder, but that she hears unseen people speaking to her and controlling her actions, and that Junor is not really dead.
Swayze told the jury that because of her condition, Bisesar could not effectively conduct her own defence or instruct a defence counsel — one of the requirements of being fit to stand trial.
Fitness also requires that a person understand why they are in court and who the major players are, such as the judge and prosecutor.
The decision on how long Bisesar’s treatment will be will be made on Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Swayze on Monday recommended 60 days, the maximum.
Bisesar will give submissions on what treatment she wants to receive. She’s been asking for a full body scan for two years.
Her trial was scheduled to start on Jan. 8.
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