Lawyers request time to review psych assessment

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on February 23, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A psychological assessment ordered last year for a Lethbridge woman charged with attempted murder has been completed, and may be spoken to when the matter returns to court next month.

During a brief hearing this week in Lethbridge provincial court, Lethbridge lawyer Greg White appeared on behalf of the accused’s lawyer, Marcus Mueller, and said neither of them has yet had an opportunity to look at the forensic report and need to time to review it.

“The request is an adjournment to March 7 to review the forensic assessment and to determine what the next steps are going to be,” White said.

Courtney Louise Shaw, who faces several criminal charges, was sent to the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in December to determine 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.

In addition to attempted murder, Shaw is also charged with numerous additional offences, 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, according to police, 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.

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