While Kyle Gemin's defence attorneys highlighted the accused's mental health struggles, the Crown's cross-examination of a forensic psychiatrist took a look at Gemin's more calm and collected moments in custody.
Gemin is accused of killing his grandfather George Gemin in July 2020 at the home they shared on Poplar Place in the Maple Leaf Acres trailer park in Belwood. He is charged with second-degree murder.
Crown attorney Robert Butler's cross-examination of Dr. Graham Glancy Thursday focused on dates before and after ones brought up by the defence.
Gemin was in close confinement – better known as a segregation unit – at Maplehurst Correctional Centre after concerns were raised initially on July 2, when Gemin was first brought in.
On Wednesday, Glancy was asked about notable points in time, and referenced July 10, when Gemin was put on a high-risk suicide watch.
In the days leading up to July 10, Butler pointed out multiple checklists filled out showed no concerns for Gemin. So much so, a document presented to the court dated July 9 recommended Gemin be taken out of segregation and put into the general population.
When Butler showed these checklists to Glancy, he agreed that's what they said.
Some of the items on the checklist included whether Gemin was well kept, appropriately dressed, made eye contact, seemed coherent and oriented and not suicidal or homicidal.
On July 13, when Gemin was taken off the high-risk suicide watch, Butler alluded to a checklist filled out that day, where while Gemin presented physical health concerns and signs of depression, things like suicidal thoughts were marked as absent.
Butler later turned to Sept. 9, a day before Gemin was sent to Oakville under the Mental Health Act.
A note read out to the court, filled out by a physician, said they "spoke to inmate in cell, he undressed before standing up, and when approaching cell door … he stated he was suicidal to get off his range."
"He stated he was harassed by the officers on his range because he had a sheet up," Butler said, confirming later the sheet was a black sheet Gemin had put up, which blocked the view inside his cell.
Glancy told the court in response Gemin was "being delusional" when saying he was being harassed by officers.
Butler presented another note in court, dated Sept. 11, a day after Gemin was brought to Oakvile and later returned, signed by another psychiatrist.
"Patient returned from hospital, patient states that he's feeling okay. Patient not suicidal," Butler read, with Glancy continuing to follow along, acknowledging what's written is in fact written.
"He had said it to get off the unit he was on. Hospital also not finding patient to be suicidal."
At the beginning of the cross-examination, Butler discussed Glancy's lengthy resume in his field, but made a point to highlight Glancy wasn't asked to be qualified as an expert witness for this particular case, which prevented Glancy from going into his own opinions.
The trial continues Friday.
