Attempted murder suspect in line for psychiatric assessment

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 24, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge woman charged with attempted murder and who has been waiting since October to have a psychological assessment, is facing yet another delay.

The court has already ordered two 30-day assessments for Courtney Louise Shaw, but neither has been executed, Lethbridge lawyer Marcus Mueller said Friday in provincial court. He requested a third order be granted, but said he’s no longer interested in having his client assessed to determine if she is unfit for trial.

“We’re seeking, your honour, a 672.11(b) psychiatric assessment to determine whether she was responsible criminally, given a mental disorder or not,” Mueller said.

He said despite the previous uncompleted assessments, Shaw is now second in line at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre in Calgary to have an assessment and he’s confident it will finally get done.

The original assessment was ordered in October to determine whether Shaw is unfit to stand trial and whether she was, at the time of the commission of the alleged offence, suffering from a mental disorder so as to be exempt from criminal responsibility. The assessment was not done, and the following month SAFPC requested, and was granted, a 30-day extension, which again was not completed.

In addition to attempted murder, Shaw, who appeared in court by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, is also charged with numerous additional charges, including aggravated assault, taking a hostage, and multiple counts of pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, unlawful confinement, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and assault with a weapon.

The charges against the 40-year-old accused stem from an incident on July 14 when a woman entered Lethbridge Legal Guidance in the 400 block of 5 Street South, where four employees were working, and asked to speak to a specific lawyer. After being told the lawyer wasn’t available, the suspect asked to use a washroom and 10 minutes later returned and pointed a black handgun at two employees and threatened to kill them. One staffer grabbed a phone and hid under her desk to call 911.

Police said the woman also had a knife and threatened to kill the employees if they tried to leave and didn’t get the lawyer on the phone. She then forced a 54-year-old woman into an office and closed the door, allowing the other employees to escape. The hostage, however, was stabbed numerous times and required surgery. Police seized a knife and an Airsoft handgun at the scene.

The matter is scheduled to return to court Feb. 6 to speak to the assessment and related report.

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