A judge said he didn’t have enough information to recommend a psychiatric assessment for a man accused of trying to abduct a 13-year-old girl near G.H. Dawe School.
Defence lawyer Michael Scrase told Red Deer provincial court Judge Bart Rosborough on Tuesday that Alexander Beaulieu, 29, wants to be assessed on whether he could be considered criminally responsible for the alleged crimes.
Scrase said he had contacted a forensic psychologist, who had treated Beaulieu in the past. The doctor suggested it was possible that previously diagnosed illnesses could have a bearing on whether he could be held criminally responsible for the alleged offences.
Rosborough said without more information, he wasn’t prepared to order a psychiatric assessment. However, he said that if the defence could provide more background, an application for an assessment would be considered.
Crown prosecutor Maurice Collard opposed the application, saying the grounds for an assessment had not been established.
A similar request was made by the defence in March, when Judge Gordon Yake also declined to order an assessment because of the lack of information to show that it was worthwhile.
Beaulieu allegedly stopped his truck near the school around 1 p.m. on Dec. 22 and asked a teen if he could use her cellphone.
It is alleged that he tried to pull her into his vehicle, hitting and choking her, but she fought back and he let her go. A passerby came to her aid and the girl was treated in hospital for non-critical injuries.
Her attacker stole her cellphone and drove off. A suspect was arrested a few hours later in north Red Deer.
Beaulieu is charged with attempted kidnapping, choking with intent, aggravated assault, robbery, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and theft under $5,000.
He elected to be tried by a Court of Queen’s Bench justice without a jury.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 17 in Red Deer.