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A P.E.I. man who stabbed a woman he said was stealing his soul and life force was found not criminally responsible Monday.
Alex Thomas Fortune appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown where he entered not guilty pleas on several charges, including attempted murder.
After reviewing a report from the East Coast Forensic Hospital, Douglas found Fortune not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder.
In November, Fortune was a patient at the Hillsborough Hospital and was absent without leave while on a pass when he went to the woman’s home.
Fortune walked to a rooming house on Euston Street where the woman lived, stopping to get gas in a plastic bag on the way.
He also broke a stick off a tree and later used it to stab two people, including his intended victim.
Fortune stabbed the woman in the neck and threatened to kill her.
When another tenant intervened Fortune stabbed him too, causing an injury to the man’s face.
He used the gas from the bag to set fire to the back of the building.
Fortune fled the scene, but the police arrested him and took him to the Hillsborough Hospital.
On the way, Fortune told the police the female victim stole his soul.
Related: Two attempted murder cases adjourned in P.E.I. court
Some details of an East Coast Forensic Hospital report were read in court, including statements Fortune made to various people.
That included Fortune saying he had special powers and that the woman was trying to steal them.
He also said the woman took his life force from his liver and put it in her own.
Fortune accused the woman of attacking his mind.
“She’s a witch who hates me.”
A witness reported hearing Fortune say he should have killed the woman when he had the chance.
The attack left the woman with a puncture wound to the side of her face along the jaw line and a puncture mark on her right upper arm.
Fortune’s male victim had a laceration to his cheek near his right eye and a scrape to his right wrist.
Defence lawyer Thane MacEachern said Fortune agreed to the facts presented in court and he pleaded not guilty.
The court heard Fortune was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been taking anti-psychotic medication.
MacEachern said Fortune believed he was justified in defending himself.
Fortune will remain at the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Nova Scotia and Douglas referred the matter to the criminal code review board.
