Sex-crime suspect’s fitness at issue
Jarett Wayne Fraser Heuff, 25, of Pomeroy Ridge, scheduled to go to trial in November on charges of sexually assaulting, touching minor for sexual purpose in 2021
A man accused of sexually assaulting an underage complainant in McAdam two years ago is contending he’s mentally unfit to stand trial later this year on the allegations against him.
Jarett Wayne Fraser Heuff, 25, of Clark Point Road in Pomeroy Ridge, about 50 kilometres south of McAdam, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Monday for a pre-trial conference.
He’d previously pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a minor and touching that same complainant for a sexual purpose. Those charges allege offences in McAdam between Oct. 30-31, 2021.
Heuff’s trial is scheduled for Nov. 16.
Defence lawyer Edward Derrah filed a psychiatric report with the court last week, and it indicated a psychiatrist found Heuff unfit to stand trial on the charges.
That means he doesn’t understand the court process and is unable to give his legal counsel instructions on his defence.
Derrah said based on the report, the defence is seeking a finding from the court that his client isn’t fit, but the prosecution opposed it.
“The Crown does take issue with it,” said prosecutor Rebecca Butler.
“We do not accept that Mr. Heuff is not fit to stand trial at this moment.”
However, she acknowledged that wasn’t enough to close the issue. She suggested a new assessment be conducted, as arranged through the Restigouche Hospital Centre - a secure psychiatric facility on Campbellton that handles most of the forensic psychiatric assessments ordered by New Brunswick courts.
Butler said the Crown wasn’t seeking to have Heuff remanded for the new examination, which is how most such assessments are conducted.
Court heard that once a judge orders an assessment in the community, Restigouche administrators assign a doctor to perform it outside the confines of the psychiatric hospital.
Judge Scott Brittain ordered the assessment and scheduled the new fitness hearing for Aug. 18 so the court can review the findings at that time.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.