Beaubassin East man accused of murder to undergo psychiatric evaluation

A Beaubassin East man accused of killing another man in the southeastern New Brunswick community will be evaluated to determine if he is fit to stand trial.

Moncton provincial court Judge Suzanne Bernard decided Philippe LeBlanc would need to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton before a trial can take place.

LeBlanc's lawyer, Annie Maltais, made the request Thursday and confirmed her client had received a schizophrenia diagnosis.

LeBlanc faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Bless LeBlanc.

WATCH | Man's lawyer asks court for psychiatric evaluation in murder case: 

Accused in Beaubassin East homicide to be evaluated

3 days ago

Duration 1:11

Philippe LeBlanc was charged with murder after the body of Bless LeBlanc was found in woods near his property in the southeastern New Brunswick community of Beaubassin East.

Police said earlier that the Shediac RCMP detachment received a report on June 21 about a missing 67-year-old man who was last seen on Collins Lake Road in Beaubassin East, a rural community east of Shediac.

Police discovered the body of Bless LeBlanc the next morning in woods near his property. Philippe LeBlanc, who police say is 29, was charged the following day.

Police did not say whether the two men are related, but according to court records, they were known to each other.

LeBlanc appeared in court Thursday by phone from the Regional Detention Centre in Shediac, where he has been held. 

Should he be found unfit during the evaluation at Restigouche Hospital, a trial would be suspended until he is fit.

An accused can be deemed unfit for trial if a mental disorder affects their ability to understand the proceedings or communicate with their lawyer, according to the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick.

A psychiatric evaluation is typically done where the accused is being held. In certain instances, such as this one, the accused can be transported to a specialized facility for the evaluation.

The Crown previously requested LeBlanc undergo a different evaluation to determine whether he was not criminally responsible for his alleged crime at the time of the incident.

This is also an eligible defence if a judge or jury decides an accused did not understand the nature of their actions at the time of crime.

A Moncton judge denied that request in June.

LeBlanc's next court appearance is set to be by video on Aug. 7.