Man not criminally responsible in sister’s slaying: experts

MONTREAL, Que. – A Montreal man will likely not be tried for killing his younger sister as experts agree that he suffers from severe mental illness and can’t be held criminally responsible.

Maor Attar, 19, was charged in the stabbing death of his 14-year-old sister, Shirel, last year.

He was later found to suffer from severe schizophrenia and separate forensic psychological reports prepared for the Crown and the defence came to the same conclusion: that he should be absolved of criminal responsibility.

The Crown announced Monday that, when the case returns to court in mid-March, it would accept experts’ findings that Attar shouldn’t be held responsible.

"We’ll proceed with the consent of the Crown and both psychiatrists came to the same conclusion – so it won’t be contested that he’s not criminally responsible," prosecutor Helene Di Salvo said.

Defence lawyer Daniel Lighter said he hopes the case will be resolved when it returns to court on March 16, scheduled as a trial date before a Quebec Superior Court justice.

"At that time the parties will produce evidence to the circumstances of the homicide as well as the mental illness that seems to have caused the incident to begin with," Lighter said.

"Both the defence and the Crown have submitted forensic psychiatric reports, both support that he suffers from schizophrenia and both parties will agree that an acquittal by reason of disease of the mind is an appropriate resolution."

However, Attar will likely remain housed at the Pinel psychiatric hospital for an undetermined period.

"His treatment will continue, he’s been in treatment for several months and he’ll stay there until doctors . . . determine that he’s fit to be reintegrated into society," Lighter said.