Homicide suspect Morgen Lambert-Bouma will stand trial for the murder of a 54-year-old man in Dawson Creek in 2019 but he must remain in a psychiatric hospital for the duration of the trial, a BC Supreme Court judge has ruled.
Justice Marguerite Church made the ruling Thursday afternoon in Dawson Creek Supreme Court, ordering Lambert-Bouma stays in custody at the Coquitlam Forensic Psychiatric Hospital to prevent any worsening of his mental state.
Church had previously ruled he was not fit to stand trial as he suffered from severe delusions and psychosis, referring the matter to a review board. Dr. Pratap Narayan, a forensic psychiatrist at the hospital, provided expert medical testimony that Lambert-Bouma is indeed capable of understanding his charges and the consequences of a trial.
“Yes, Mr. Lambert-Bouma does have a mental illness and a significant history of psychosis and intellectual impairment, however, he does have the ability to understand the nature of his charges, the potential consequences of being found responsible for his charges,” said Narayan.
Lambert-Bouma, 26, was arrested Aug. 16, 2019, after police were called to a Kelly Lake home after reports of an assault. When officers arrived at the home, they found Owen Cardinal, 54, fatally wounded, along with Lambert-Bouma. Both were known to each other, according to police. Lambert-Bouma was taken in custody and charged with second-degree murder.
Dr. Narayan has been Lambert-Bouma’s psychiatric physician since his arrest, court heard, and has met with him up to 50 times as part of a fitness assessment he authored in December 2021 indicating Lambert-Bouma could meet the mental threshold for trial.
“Mr. Lambert-Bouma does not currently have any delusions that impact his physical behaviour or his ability to function, and that he does understand the nature of these proceedings,” Church said.
Church has appointed lawyer Sigrid Thompson as ‘Amicus Curaie’ in the proceedings – the judicial term for a ‘friend of the court’ – who will assist in the matter due to Lambert-Bouma’s refusal to hire a lawyer to represent himself instead.
Thompson recommended Lambert-Bouma stay in the hospital for concern that he may become psychotic if removed. He previously indicated his intention to plead guilty if a trial commenced, court heard.
He remains in custody at the psychiatric hospital but will appear again later this month to set a date for a pretrial conference.
Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative. Email Tom at tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
