A BC Supreme Court judge decided May 21 that a woman guilty of committing second-degree murder outside the Prince George courthouse will undergo a fitness assessment before sentencing proceeds.
Charlene Jane Alexander, 59, faces a jail term of between 10 and 25 years without parole for the July 2, 2020 stabbing murder of 26-year-old Jessie Mae Hayward-Lines.
RCMP officers were called to the courthouse around 10 p.m. that night. Hayward-Lines died in hospital.
Alexander is in custody at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre.
Justice Neena Sharma heard Alexander’s lawyer Lisa Helps describe concerns about Alexander’s medical issues. The details are protected by a ban on publication.
Sharma ordered the assessment under the Criminal Code.
“She’s been convicted, there’s a mandatory minimum,” Sharma said. “The only issue at this stage is eligibility for parole.”
The case was adjourned to Monday, May 26 for a scheduling hearing.
