A forensic psychiatrist who testified today at the trial of 21-year-old Graham Veitch agrees with the defence that Veitch was delusional and experiencing psychosis in 2016 when he killed his mother’s partner with a hammer.
Today in St. John’s Supreme Court, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Philip Klassen of Ontario is on the stand for the Crown at the trial of Graham Veitch, 21, who killed his mother’s partner in Dec. 2016 at the family home in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/U0UGeWPBG4
— Renell LeGrow (@renell_legrow) May 28, 2019
Dr. Philip Klassen of Ontario says those suffering from schizophrenia and psychosis will sometimes sit very still, without moving or making eye contact, for very long periods of time. This is a symptom of the condition. Graham Veitch was sitting still in the prisoner box in court, without making any noise, looking down.
Dr. Klassen—like defence expert witness Dr. Nizer Ladha—says Graham Veitch has schizophrenia, and was likely suffering from psychosis when he killed David Collins.
Dr. Klassen Says Veitch felt Collins was a danger to him and his mother, and says Veitch was very preoccupied with that perceived threat.
Klassen says Veitch’s judgement was “distorted by the intensity of his delusional thinking.” @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/TQxQfUxBy0
— Renell LeGrow (@renell_legrow) May 28, 2019
Dr. Klassen says Veitch’s judgement was “distorted by the intensity of his delusional thinking.”
The defence concedes Veitch killed Collins, but says he was not criminally responsible. So far the Crown has not argued otherwise.
The trial continues.
Dr. Klassen is now talking about Veitch’s symptoms of schizophrenia. Crown asks the psychiatrist if there’s a possibility that Veitch made up the symptoms. Klassen says it is his opinion that, No, Veitch didn’t fabricate these symptoms. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/eLu1ve19Xn
— Renell LeGrow (@renell_legrow) May 28, 2019
