MOOSE JAW — A recent psychiatric report says that Brandon Lee Bluecloud is fit to stand trial if one is held, but it does not address whether he was criminally responsible for his alleged actions.
Bluecloud, 29, appeared by video in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on June 12, where his defence, the Crown and the judge discussed a they had received the night before.
Defence lawyer Deanna Harris said the report raises some questions that she needs to discuss with Bluecloud and Crown prosecutor Rob Parker. Furthermore, the report says Bluecloud is fit for trial, but it does not address the issue she wanted of whether he was not criminally responsible (NCR) during the alleged offence.
Harris noted that Parker is working with a colleague who is “way more familiar” with these types of cases, so from her perspective, she needs to consider the report and the information in it.
The initial assessment report raised the possibility of NCR, although the Crown was not prepared to concede that and believed the issue focused on fitness for trial, said Parker. There was an agreement and finding that Bluecloud was unfit, which put the proceedings in abeyance until he was deemed fit.
“According to this report, that is now, so I think now we have to revisit the issue of the possible defence of not criminally responsible,” he continued, noting this new report may cause the Crown to change its view around NCR.
Parker said he would forward this latest psychiatric report to his colleague while he, his colleague and Harris would work on an agreement about where to go from here or schedule a contested trial focusing on NCR.
Judge David Chow then adjourned the matter to Monday, June 24.
. His doctor, Dr. Stephen Adams, said there was a change in circumstances relevant to his diagnosis and the stated hope was for Bluecloud to be rendered fit to stand trial.
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When officers arrived on the scene, they learned that Bluecloud had allegedly approached a bank customer from behind, stabbed that person multiple times in the lower back region with a syringe, and then fled the scene.
Bluecloud was arrested without incident a short time after the attack with the help of security camera footage. Bluecloud and his victim were unknown to one another, and police are saying the attack appeared to be random.
