SAINT-JEROME, Que. – The jury deciding the fate of Guy Turcotte has now been sequestered to consider a verdict.
The Montreal panel must first decide whether he was criminally responsible in the stabbing deaths of two children before they can consider possible verdicts.
READ MORE: Psychiatrist maintains Turcotte mentally ill during slayings under Crown’s cross
The judge told jurors before they were sequestered there are four possible outcomes – not criminally responsible by way of mental disorder or guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.
Acquittal is not an option for the 43-year-old doctor, who has admitted to causing the deaths of his five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter in 2009.
The jurors must first examine the not criminally responsible defence put forth by Turcotte and determine if he was aware that what he was doing when he stabbed the children was wrong.
READ MORE: Guy Turcotte’s mother testifies about rambling conversation she had with her son
Turcotte’s first murder trial ended with a verdict of not criminally responsible – a decision overturned by the Quebec Court of Appeal.
The Crown completed its case last week, saying Turcotte had decided to commit suicide and wanted to kill his children to ensure they weren’t raised by his estranged wife and another man.
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