The trial began at Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Nov.10 and will explore whether he is not criminally responsible for this act.
In Canada, “not criminally responsible” (NCR) due to mental disorder is a legal decision for someone who committed a crime while suffering from mental illness that prevented them from understanding that their actions were wrong or grasping what they did. This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Crown concluded its case on Monday as the defense called Gray as its first witness. When asked by defense attorney Genevieve Eliany if she smelled any alcohol or marijuana on her son when he came over on March 29 of 2021 and found nothing else in his backpack either. Under cross-examination by Crown lawyer Gracie Romano she stated she couldn’t confirm whether her son had taken drugs prior to arriving since she wasn’t with him. Gray mentioned that she took Ballard out for a drive in an effort to soothe him down. “He was scaring me to death,” said Gray. “This wasn’t my son. He was somewhere else.” Gray said she drove her son back to a motel where he stayed but didn’t see any alcohol or drugs there.This has not loaded yet , but your article continues below.
An agreed statement of facts indicates Gray then left Ballard at King and Church streets near Murray’s apartment. Video surveillance footage from a nearby business captured someone resembling him heading toward Murray’s place around 1 a. m. on March 30. On that same day , Gray recounted how she and George stumbled upon an incident along James Street where they recognized their shirtless son. Shortly after this encounter , Ballard was arrested for breaking into a residence nearby. Gray noted she embraced her son before police put him into their vehicle and detected no substances on him. The arresting officer Quade Odrowski previously testified that Ballard claimed he had “smoked a ton of weed and drank.”This has not loaded yet , but your article continues below.
Additionally , Gray recounted an event back in2013 where Ballard threatened suicide prompting her call for assistance. Ballards older brother David Martin spoke during Monday’s proceedings stating they hadn’t communicated much over several years until October-November2020 when Balalrd reached out. Screenshots featuring Facebook Messenger chats between them were presented as evidence in court.
“I don’t know what’s going on in my head anymore,” one message read from Ballard.”I just want it to stop.”
“The only thing keeping my head from fu**ing up more is beer and weed,” another message stated.
Martin shared how his brother also discussed “a duck on fire” alongside “seeing demons.”
Although Martin advised cutting back substances , he could only speculate ifhis brother was actually using anything. During cross-examination, Mary confirmed seeing each other face-to-face since roughly2014. 7
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< < Dr. Mikhail Epelbaum, a psychiatrist atthe Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre, testifiedthathehas been treating Ballardovertimeperiodically. Epelbaum statedwhen Balla rdfirstarrivedatthedetentioncentrehewasindistress, suicidal, andexperiencingauditoryhallucinations. Epelbaum diagnosed Ballarda s having substanceuse disorder alongwith secondary affective dysregulation accompaniedby intermittentpsychosis, andborderline personality disorder. Epelbaum contended that Ballardspsychosiscouldbe”mostlyormaybe exclusivelydruginduced.” Duringhis initialdaysin custody, Ballwardwason suicide watch. Epelbaumsawimprovedconditionafteradministeringantipsychoticmedications. While questioned by Justice Aubrey Hilli ard, Epeblaumsaidthatdrug-induced psychosiscan disappear simplybystopping drug use however people may continuehaving hallucinations evenafteryearsof sobriety. The trial continued Tuesday with ajudge imposingpublication banontestimoniesgivenbywitnesses. Thedefense plans toc allits remaining witnesses whenthetrialresumes Wednesday, N ovember26at10a. m., andit is expectedto conclude bythe endofthe following week.Source link
