The suspect in a stabbing at an Abbotsford high school that left one teen dead and another seriously hurt has been found unfit to stand trial.
A B.C. Supreme Court made the ruling Friday, ahead of a trial on second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges that was initially scheduled to begin May 7.
Klein is alleged to have entered Abbotsford Senior Secondary in November, 2016 and attacked two girls.
Thirteen-year-old Letisha Reimer was killed, and her friend was hospitalized with stab wounds. Officials at the time described the attack as random.
In making the ruling Thursday, the judge said Klein’s psychiatrist knows his patient well, and noted the doctor’s testimony that Klein suffers from all four characteristics of schizophrenia: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and negative symptoms such as withdrawal that often present as emotional blankness.
The judge also noted that Klein is being treated aggressively with three anti-psychotic medications, though he still has delusions, and psychotic impairment.
Those findings were key, with the judge ruling Klein’s variable mental state had to be considered, particularly given he could be in and out psychosis during proceedings, something that could be undetectable.
The ruling, however, does not necessarily mean Klein will be found not criminally responsible.
The Crown has applied for a disposition, so he will be sent back to a psychiatric hospital. After 90 days he will be reassessed to determine if he is still unfit. If found unfit, he will be reassessed again at a later date.
WATCH: Officials say Abbotsford school stabbing was ‘random act of violence’
Klein’s psychiatrist testified on Wednesday that his patient has a fragile mental state and that his psychosis has worsened in the past two weeks.
The court heard that Klein believes the CIA tried to kill him and that voices had told him to rape another patient.
On Thursday, Klein’s lawyer said it wouldn’t be fair for his client to stand trial, saying “he’s crazy.”
-With files from Nadia Stewart
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