New charges were laid today against Ian Bush, the man accused of attempted murder, robbery and forcible confinement of a 101-year-old World War Two veteran.
Bush appeared in court today to hear the results of a psychiatric assessment. He was found fit to stand trial. More serious charges are expected later today.
Ian Bush's lawyer made a quick exit from the courthouse this morning after hearing her client was fit to stand trial in the home invasion case of Ernest Coté. She said nothing about potential murder charges.
‘I can’t say anything,’ Geraldine Castle-Trudel responded to a flurry of reporters’ questions, ‘I can’t tell you.’
It is that case, the unsolved triple murder from 2007 of tax judge Alban Garon, his wife Raymonde and neighbor Marie-Claire Beniksos, that drew Adrian St-Cyr and his wife, who were close friends of the Garon family. They had hoped for some closure today on their murders.
‘As far as we concerned,’ says St-Cyr, ‘we came down here because we thought he was going to be charged. There were lots of people waiting for that.’
Ian Bush was handcuffed as he was led into the courtroom to hear the results of his assessment. Wearing a black leather jacket and high-collar sweater, he looked only at the Judge, never once glancing towards the packed courtroom. He was found fit to stand trial for the home invasion of Ernest Coté, with no NCR (not-criminally responsible) issue identified. He was also charged with several weapons offences, after a search of his Orleans home in December.
Several detectives with Ottawa's Major Crime Unit were in court today to hear the results of the psychiatric assessment of Ian Bush.
Staff-Sergeant Bruce Pirt with Major Crime was asked how he felt about the results of the psychiatric assessment.
‘It speaks for itself,’ he said as he brushed by reporters.
Pirt would not comment on the possibility of murder charges being laid against Bush but said police would be issuing further information this afternoon. Immediately after his court appearance, Bush was driven by major crime detectives to the Elgin Street police station. Bush is back in court March 6th.
