Church break-in suspect is unfit to stand trial
John Paul Clifford Wright, 42, remanded to secure psychiatric facility, to undergo another assessment to determine criminal responsibility at time of alleged offences
A homeless man who broke into a northside church and stole cash from a southside restaurant has been remanded to a psychiatric facility for treatment after being found unfit to stand trial.
John Paul Clifford Wright, 42, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in person and in custody Monday for a fitness hearing, after his mental state was previously called into question.
He faces various charges alleged to have occurred over the past several months.
Wright is accused of causing damage to a carpet belonging to Robert Curtis on Dec. 19; stealing cash from Moco Downtown and breaching his probation March 4; breaching a police undertaking by failing to attend court April 6; breaking into the Nashwaaksis Baptist Church and stealing items there May 28; and breaching an undertaking by failing to attend court again June 1.
Judge Scott Brittain said Monday a psychiatrist’s report had been filed with the court after it had previously ordered an assessment to determine if Wright is fit to stand trial.
Essentially, being deemed fit to stand trial means a defendant understands the court process, is able to instruct defence counsel and can participate in his defence.
But the report - filed by a doctor with the Restigouche Hospital Centre, a secure psychiatric facility in Campbellton - indicates Wright is unfit.
Reading from the report, the judge said, “Mr. Wright does not meet the threshold for fitness to stand trial.”
Melinda Ponting-Moore, serving as duty counsel and representing Wright, said the defence accepts that finding, and prosecutor Jennifer Bueno took no issue with it.
As such, Brittain found Wright unfit to stand trial and remanded him back to Restigouche for treatment.
However, Ponting-Moore pointed out the psychiatrist noted in the report he had a discussion with Wright about the possibility he might also be exempt from criminal responsibility due to a mental disorder at the time of his alleged crimes.
As such, she asked the court to order another assessment to delve into that issue.
Essentially, being unfit stems from being mentally unwell now, while criminal responsibility flows from one’s mental state at the time offences are committed.
When a defendant is found unfit, the case against them halts so they can undergo treatment until they become fit to stand trial. At that juncture, the case resumes.
The judge agreed the criminal-responsibility exam was merited and ordered it. Such assessments are typically conducted at Restigouche as well.
Brittain ordered Wright to be returned to court Aug. 18 to review the results of that assessment.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.