The man accused of killing Lacey Jones-McKnight will remain under psychiatric care.
Kristopher Guenther made a brief court appearance on Wednesday morning, charged with the second degree murder of Jones-McKnight.
Jones-McKnight was found dead inside a car last Thursday evening.
Police found Guenther near the vehicle trying to hang himself from a bridge along Country Hills Blvd. N.E.
Guenther was taken to Foothills Hospital after the incident but will likely remain at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre until he is assessed.
He appeared briefly in court via CCTV and is currently being held on a 30 day certification under the Mental Health Act and psychiatrists will be monitoring his behavior.
“Normally under the Mental Health Act provisions it means that a person is a danger to themselves or a danger to other people,” said Defence Attorney Mark Takada. “We’re certain that he attempted to harm himself. He attempted to commit suicide apparently so he clearly, at least at that time, posed a danger to himself and at least according to the psychiatrists, it must be ongoing.”
Takada says he believes his client understands the charges but that it will be up to a psychiatrist to decide if his client is mentally fit to stand trial.
“It’s my view that he quite clearly understands the role of the judge, the prosecutor and the defence lawyer and he understand the nature of the charges that he’s facing,” said Takada
Guenther will be back in provincial court on November 26th.
A funeral for Lacey Jones-McKnight is being held on Thursday.
