Accused in Montreal store clerk’s slaying mounting mental disorder defence

The lawyer representing a man on trial for first-degree murder in the slaying of a Montreal store clerk says he’ll mount a mental disorder defence.

Defence lawyer Philippe Larochelle told the jury Thursday that his client Randy Tshilumba was convinced the victim, Clemence Beaulieu-Patry, and her friends wanted to kill him.

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Larochelle told jurors in his opening statement that he’ll bring them inside the mind of the accused, who doesn’t believe he did anything wrong the night of the slaying in April 2016.

Beaulieu-Patry was stabbed 14 times inside a busy grocery store while clients shopped.

READ MORE: Witnesses to testify at trial of Montreal man charged in death of store clerk

Tshilumba, who has pleaded not guilty to the charge, will be the first defence witness to take the stand.

His lawyer says he’ll be followed by members of his family and two psychiatrists will also testify on behalf of the defence.