The man charged in the stabbing of a Bridgewater police sergeant and an RCMP dog, and who was then the subject of a nearly weeklong manhunt, is being sent for a 30-day assessment of his criminal responsibility.
Tobias Charles Doucette, 31, is accused of assaulting his common-law partner and then stabbing Sgt. Matthew Bennett in the neck in a room at the Bridgewater Hotel on July 20.
He then fled into a wooded area, and, despite having no shoes or shirt, avoided capture until July 26. During the search, he allegedly stabbed RCMP dog Fergus with a pointed stick as the canine team tried to close in on him.
He was eventually caught in nearby Hebbville after someone tried to steal a pickup truck from a business in the area.
A bail hearing was scheduled to begin in Bridgewater provincial court on Tuesday, but Doucette's lawyer, Darren MacLeod, told Judge Catherine Benton that he and fellow defence attorney Matt Dill, both with Legal Aid, had concerns after reviewing most of the more than 720 pages of disclosure documents provided by the Crown attorney Alonzo Wright.
“We don't have a concern around fitness,” MacLeod said. “But at the time of the allegation, there is some evidence in that disclosure, and I don't think Mr. Wright's disputing, necessarily, that someone should take a look into responsibility, here.
“On an inpatient basis, we're willing to consent to a further remand til the next court date.”
He told the judge most of the things they “flagged” have to do with a statement Doucette himself made.
Wright had no objection to the application, and Benton ordered the assessment, remanding Doucette to the forensic unit of the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Burnside so a report can be prepared on his criminal responsibility.
Court will hear the report on Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m., followed by the show-cause hearing either starting the same day after the report is presented or beginning Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m.
In a Facebook post, Nova Scotia RCMP said the service dog, Fergus, is on the road to a full recovery.
“Fergus received immediate treatment for a stab wound, fought off potential infections and is now on the mend,” the post said. “Thank you to the South Shore Veterinary Hospital for providing Fergus with the absolute best care. We expect he will return to duty later this month. See you soon Fergus!”
Bennett also underwent surgery and is recovering.
Doucette, who is originally from Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton, is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault, injuring a law enforcement animal, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief and theft of a motor vehicle.
