The lawyer for a suspended Mountie charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of an Ottawa police officer suggests mental health may be used as a possible defence, and his client could be found not criminally responsible for murder.
Defence lawyer Israel Gencher told reporters on Tuesday that Kevin Gregson's mental health will definitely be an issue in the trial. However, he did not confirm how his client's mental health would be used in the case.
Gencher floated several possibilities on how the case could unfold, including the possibility that his client could be found not criminally responsible for murder.
Although Gencher would not confirm if his client was still under suicide watch, he said the level of scrutiny appears to be more relaxed than it was last week. However, he said he is still "concerned" for his client.
Gregson is charged in connection with the killing of Const. Eric Czapnik, who was attacked with a knife while taking notes in his police cruiser outside the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital on Dec. 29.
Gregson is also charged with robbery and using an imitation firearm.
He wore a plain white T-shirt and baggy pants during a brief court appearance at the Ottawa courthouse on Tuesday.
Two bandages were visible on either side of his neck, which his lawyer later said covered stitches his client apparently received when he was tackled following the alleged attack at the Ottawa Hospital.
The judge decided to put over the case for two weeks. Gregson will make his next court appearance via video link on Jan. 19.
Gregson was originally scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, the same day as Czapnik's funeral.
With files from The Canadian Press
