Murder of Sister Suspect Was Schizophrenic

Montreal - A second psychiatric evaluation has confirmed that Maor Attar, the 18-year-old Côte St. Luc resident accused of killing his 14-year-old sister, Shirel, was schizophrenic and psychotic at the time of the incident, his lawyer, Daniel Lighter said Monday.

Lighter spoke outside the court after crown prosecutor Hélène Di Salvo declined to comment on the case. Quebec Court Judge Hélène Morin had requested the second evaluation during a court hearing last month in the first-degree murder case. Then, forensic psychiatrist Chantale Bouchard determined Attar was not criminally responsible for the Aug. 9 slaying in the family's home on Randall Ave. because he was suffering from schizophrenia with psychotic episodes. His illness was not discovered until after his sister was slain.

The case has been postponed to Jan. 10, when it is expected to be transferred to a Superior Court judge, who is to rule on whether Attar is criminally responsible given his mental illness at the time.