Accused of lighting forest fires this summer in Chibougamau and Chapais, in Nord-du-Québec, Brian Paré will have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
It’s his lawyer, Mr.e Jean Girard, who made the request to a judge Monday morning at the Roberval courthouse.
According to him, the 37-year-old accused seems disconnected from reality and his Facebook page gives many clues: he talks about the “new world order of 2030”, and has posted messages online suggesting that he adheres to conspiracy theories, including some that climate change doesn’t exist and that wildfires are started by the government.
The judge granted his request. The man will be evaluated to determine whether he can be held criminally responsible or not, that is to say whether he was able to distinguish right from wrong at the time of the alleged acts.
Brian Paré faces 11 charges.
In addition to being accused of setting fires on May 31 and 1er June in the forests of Chapais, he is accused of having lit “intentionally or without worrying about the consequences of his act”, six forest fires in Chibougamau between the 1er June and September 5.
He is also accused of setting fire to a fishing cabin and a house, and of committing a public nuisance “which endangered the life, safety, or health” of the population.
Brian Paré has been detained since his arrest on September 7. He will have to appear before a judge at the beginning of October.
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