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Accused man in Red Deer doctor killing is up for a mental health review

Red Deer Advocate - 3/23/2021

The mental health of a man accused of killing a Red Deer doctor, and his fitness to stand trial, was questioned in a Red Deer courtroom on Monday.

Deng Mabiour was previously deemed able to tell right from wrong, and was considered fit to stand trial, but Crown Prosecutor Bina Border told the court that the accused is now being held in the Calgary Remand Centre on a warrant under the Mental Health Act.

That means he is deemed to be a danger to himself or others.

Border said Mabiour's mental fitness is going to be determined by a Mental Health Review Board hearing next Wednesday.

After Mabiour made several unintelligible statements via televised court appearance on Monday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Paul Belzil said it would be advisable to bring Mabiour back after the review board makes its determination on his mental health.

As Belzil was also apprised of a problem with Mabiour's physical health, he wanted a doctor's opinion from the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic in Calgary as well, about whether the accused would be able to physically withstand a trial that's been set for November.

Belzil is hoping Mabiour can appear in person at the second arraignment, now set for April 14 at 1 p.m.

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Mabiour, 54, is still insisting on representing himself on the charge of first-degree murder.

Red Deer lawyer Jason Snider was appointed as a court lawyer, who is not to represent Mabiour, but to help clarify court proceedings for him, among other things.

Dr. Walter Reynolds was slain at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic in Red Deer last summer.

Mabiour had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, as well as to charges of assault with a weapon and assaulting a police officer. His trial date was set for Nov. 22 to Dec. 17.

The accused was urged several times to obtain a lawyer. In February, Belzil repeated the request, saying he strongly recommends it as "you're facing a very, very serious charge here." The penalty is life in prison if Mabiour is convicted.

But Mabiour insisted he wouldn't accept a lawyer. He told the court he doesn't trust the governments of Alberta or Canada.

Court had ordered a psychiatric exam for Mabiour after a number of bizarre exchanges with the judge, and he was found fit to stand trial.

Reynolds, a 45-year-old father of two, was attacked with a weapon while working at the clinic on Aug. 10. He died in hospital.

RCMP have said the crime was not random and the two men knew each other through the clinic, although they have not said if Mabiour was a patient of Reynolds.