Calgary man accused of killing girlfriend, mother and stepfather to undergo NCR assessment
The lawyer for an accused triple murderer has asked the court to order a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he was criminally responsible at the time of the killings.
Dustin Duthie is charged with three counts of second-degree murder. Police allege he killed girlfriend Taylor Toller in July and then his mother, Shawn Boshuck, and stepfather, Alan Pennylegion, a week later.
There have been serious concerns for Duthie's mental health since his arrest, which took place minutes after he called 911 on July 31 to report the deaths.
On Wednesday, provincial court Judge Allan Fradsham granted defence lawyer Rebecca Snukal's request for the assessment, which was unopposed by prosecutor Shane Parker.
When officers responded to Duthie's 911 call, they discovered the bodies of Toller at her southeast apartment in Applewood Park and his mother and stepfather at their Hidden Valley home in northwest Calgary.
Duthie has been kept at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Hospital — a secure mental health facility — and will continue to stay there as doctors complete this latest assessment.
In August, Duthie was found mentally fit to stand trial after being examined by a forensic psychiatrist. That means he understands the charges against him and is capable of instructing his lawyer.
If he is found to have been suffering psychosis at the time of the slayings, Duthie could be found not criminally responsible (NCR), meaning he would continue to live and be treated at the forensic psychiatry hospital.
