The young man who attacked a 10-year-old girl in the middle of the street in the Pointe-aux-Trembles sector, in Montreal, Tanvir Singh, was declared a “high-risk accused” on Tuesday morning.
During this violent attack, which took place in March 2022, he approached the girl at lunchtime, then threw her to the ground and repeatedly hit her in the head and face, inflicting serious injuries on her. She has psychological scars.
As soon as he was arrested the same day, the police already suspected that he was suffering from mental health problems, which was confirmed by a psychiatrist at court.
Last July, the 22-year-old man was declared not criminally responsible for his actions on account of mental disorder. This conclusion means that the accused was not able to distinguish right from wrong at the material time. However, he has not been released because he has since been hospitalized at the Philippe-Pinel Psychiatric Institute where he will remain for an indefinite period.
The Crown had requested that he be declared a high-risk accused. This qualification was ultimately not contested by the defense, and the judge decreed it on Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse, indicated the Crown prosecutor in this case, Ms.e Annabelle Shepard.
This declaration of “high-risk accused” has the effect of making his detention in a psychiatric hospital even stricter, and without the right to leave, except in exceptional cases, she explained in an interview. He may only go outside the psychiatric facility for medical care or treatment, and when strict conditions are met.
This status of high-risk accused, with its share of restrictions, “was important, in terms of the protection of the public”, commented Mr.e Shepard.
To obtain it, she had invoked the fact that the actions of Tanvir Singh were so brutal that there was a risk of serious harm to another person.
The girl’s family has been informed of the outcome, said the Crown prosecutor: it is likely to bring some relief, “even if it cannot erase the consequences suffered by the young victim”, a- she said.