Kamaljit Arora, this father from Laval accused of having killed two of his children in mid-October, will have to be evaluated in psychiatry to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
It was his lawyer who made the request to Judge Dominique Larochelle of the Court of Quebec, Thursday afternoon at the Laval courthouse.
Me Gabriel Mire told him that Mr. Kamaljit is in “a state of confusion” and does not even know where he is.
He is not in a position to discuss the facts of the case nor to actually exercise his right to counsel. The lawyer says he has reason to believe that his client is not able to stand his criminal trial.
The 45-year-old accused has been hospitalized – and detained – since his arrest on October 17, which occurred the same evening his two children, Aaron, 11, and Angel, 13, were found unresponsive at the family residence.
He should normally have appeared the next day, but his state of health did not allow it. His first appearance has been postponed repeatedly since, the man having even been plunged into a coma. On Thursday, he appeared by phone from his hospital room.
Judge Lachapelle thus ordered that he be evaluated at the National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry Philippe-Pinel, where he will also be placed in custody.
Me Mire said he was discharged from intensive care but requires psychiatric care.
The man was also charged with assaulting a woman in her 40s which was allegedly committed on the same day, October 17.
Kamaljit Arora had no criminal record in Quebec. The circumstances in which the two children died have not yet been revealed.
Crown counsel, Mr.e Karine Dalphond, must disclose the evidence to defense counsel shortly. The case will be called again in court next Thursday.