The young man who was accused of violently attacking a young girl on Monday in Montreal will have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is fit to have a trial. He will remain detained until then.
On Monday, the 10-year-old girl was returning home with a friend around lunchtime when the defendant approached her in the street, threw her to the ground and hit her repeatedly in the head, inflicting “serious injuries “, according to the police.
Tanvir Singh, 21, was arrested at the scene of the assault and faces four counts of assault, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon in a dangerous purpose.
The girl’s life is not in danger, but she has suffered numerous injuries.
According to her aunt, who was present at the Montreal courthouse on Wednesday for the appearance of the accused, “she is better but is still in shock. Several members of the child’s family were present and wanted to make known their opposition to the accused being released: “It’s a public danger,” said the girl’s aunt.
The Crown also opposed his release.
Tanvir Singh has been evaluated by the psychosocial emergency since his arrest: the conclusions of this preliminary examination led the Crown prosecutor, Mand Annabelle Sheppard, to request that a more in-depth psychiatric evaluation be carried out at the Philippe-Pinel Institute.
An essential step, according to her, to ensure that he understands the criminal proceedings brought against him and so that he can communicate adequately with his lawyer.
“And if he is fit, we will ask for an assessment of his criminal responsibility,” she continued before Judge André Perreault of the Court of Quebec.
The latter asked the accused if he understood what was happening.
“Yes, thank you,” replied the accused in a small voice, from the detention center where he has been since his arrest.
Already at that time, the police had pointed out that while the motives for the attack remained to be determined, they suspected that a mental health problem was possibly involved.
The accused will return to court on March 23.