Man charged with 1st-degree murder of 2 Saint John boys found unfit to stand trial
CBC
A Saint John man accused of killing two boys in the city's north end last month has been found unfit to stand trial, following a five-day psychiatric assessment.
But Roman Kamyshnyy, 45, has been ordered to undergo a further 30-day assessment.
Kamyshnyy is charged with two counts of first-degree murder after police officers found the boys, aged 10 and 17, dead inside an apartment on Skaling Court in Millidgeville on Jan. 29 around 7 a.m., while responding to a 911 call.
Officers also found a man they described as having life-threatening injuries, who was taken into custody and transported to hospital.
Last week, provincial court Judge Lucie Mathurin ordered a five-day assessment be conducted at the Saint John Regional Hospital because Kamyshnyy did not have "full function."
Although he was no longer in a coma, he could not speak and did not respond when the charges were read to him.
On Friday, Kamyshnyy made a remote appearance in Saint John provincial court from the hospital over the phone.
Saint John Police Force Det. Const. Peter Osbourne, who was with him in a private room, advised the court Kamyshnyy has "improved a great deal" since Feb. 13.
Kamyshnyy is now speaking, Osbourne told Judge Kelly Winchester. "His voice is very faint, but yes, you can understand some words," and he was able to read Osbourne's police department-issued business card.
His trach tube has been removed and he's "no longer hooked up to any medical tubes or wires." He has "full mobility" while seated.
"I'm no medical professional, but he seems to understand what I'm saying," said Osbourne.
Kamyshnyy did not have a copy of the fitness report, dated Feb. 20, but Osbourne said he informed him "at length" the reason for court hearing.
"I … asked him several times if he understood. He indicated [he did] with locking eyes on me, stating 'yes,' and shaking his head in a slow manner."
Winchester told the court she reviewed the report from the psychiatrist who conducted the five-day assessment.
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A Saint John man accused of killing two boys in the city's north end last month has been found unfit to stand trial, following a five-day psychiatric assessment.
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