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Trial of man accused of killing Red Deer doctor going ahead

Deng Mabiour is fit for four-week trial that is set to begin Nov. 22
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Deng Mabiour appeared in person in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Wednesday afternoon. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Dr. Walter Reynolds, who was killed at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic in Red Deer last summer. (Advocate file photo)

A man accused of killing a Red Deer doctor in his walk-in clinic last August remains fit to stand trial and represent himself.

Deng Mabiour appeared in person in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Wednesday afternoon. Justice Paul Belzil, Crown prosecutor Bina Border and lawyer Jason Snider, who is assisting the courts in Mabiour’s case but does not represent him, appeared by teleconference.

Mabiour, 54, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Dr. Walter Reynolds, who was killed at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic.

As in previous appearances, the judge confirmed Wednesday that Mabiour still insisted on representing himself in his four-week trial beginning Nov. 22 in Red Deer.

“I recommend that you do not do so, but you have the right to represent yourself,” said the judge.

Belzil asked Mabiour, who was making his first in-person court appearance since his arrest, if he had any questions.

“My question is do you believe that my case is connected to a human rights abuse case,” he asked.

Questions about Mabiour’s mental health arose during a March court appearance when he rambled incoherently at times. Belzil directed that Mabiour’s case be reviewed by the Mental Health Review Board. An earlier psychological assessment said Mabiour knows right from wrong and was fit to stand trial.

No mention was made of the second assessment on Wednesday.

Mabiour returns to court on May 20 when he will be updated on some applications that are expected to be heard in October, ahead of his trial, including one from the Crown pertaining to Mabiour acting on his own behalf.

Border said she intends to make an application to ensure that a lawyer is called in to interview non-RCMP witnesses in his trial.

The Crown prosecutor told the judge that all the disclosure except videos were being passed on to Mabiour. Reviewing the videos will mean getting access to a laptop.

Snider said he would look into what remand centre Mabiour will be sent to and what options he has to review the video evidence in his case.

Belzil told Mabiour at one point that it was his job to ensure he gets a fair trial.

“I said go ahead,” said Mabiour.

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.

With files from the Canadian Press



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