Howard Richmond criminally responsible for killing wife, psychiatrist testifies
Canadian solider Howard Richmond knew what he was doing when he stabbed his wife to death in July 2013, even though he was depressed and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder at the time, a psychiatrist testified at Richmond's first-degree murder trial.
Dr. Derek Pallandi assessed Richmond over two days in July 2015, two years after the death of 28-year-old Melissa Richmond.
Richmond, 53, admitted to killing his wife at the outset of his trial in September but has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His lawyers have argued he is not criminally responsible because he was suffering from PTSD at the time of the killing, brought on by six tours of duty.
'Not of sufficient severity'
Pallandi testified Thursday that Richmond's mental health issues were "not of sufficient severity" to stop him from knowing that his actions were wrong — although he admitted it was "problematic" that he was tasked with assessing Richmond's mental state so long after the killing.
Forensic psychologist Charles Ewing testified for the defence earlier this week that it took Richmond nine months to recall that he stabbed his wife to death because he was suffering from traumatic amnesia.
After the defence rested its case Tuesday, the Crown called Pallandi as an another expert who examined Richmond.
Pallandi told court he believes Richmond is criminally responsible for killing his wife.
"People can be very mentally ill, but you can't say by definition this person is not criminally responsible," Pallandi testified.
Psychiatrist challenges flashback
In October, Richmond testified through tears that he heard a loud noise that reminded him of his traumatic tour in Croatia in 1992 — which turned what was supposed to be a consensual-yet-violent sexual encounter into a fatal attack.
On Thursday, Pallandi challenged Richmond's claim that a loud noise prompted a dissociative flashback the night of the killing.
"You don't just hear a loud sharp sound and suddenly kill someone," Pallandi testified. "It's difficult for me to understand how making a noise compels homicidal behaviour."
Court previously heard that Melissa Richmond was having an affair and planned to leave her husband days before she was killed.
During their sessions, Richmond said he did not find out about his wife's affair until after he killed her, Pallandi testified Thursday.
Pallandi said Richmond told him that it was a huge mistake that he was being prosecuted, because he loved his wife and had no reason to hurt her.
Pallandi testified that he believed Richmond was more aware of his wife's affair than he was letting on.
Killing happened during sex role-playing game
On the night of her death, Richmond's wife had urged him to act out a "rape fantasy" in which he was a "bad man," Pallandi testified.
Richmond previously told court that he waited in the bushes in a ravine near South Keys Shopping Centre with a knife and screwdriver, after he and his wife took separate vehicles from their home late on July 24, 2013.
Pallandi said Richmond explained to him that the knife and screwdriver were meant to be used to cut off his wife's clothes, but he was concerned she wanted him to use the weapons to mark and bruise her body.
Richmond also revealed during the assessment that he told his wife he was considering going to a march while wearing his uniform to draw attention to PTSD — and that his wife said "If you're well enough to do that, you're well enough to have sex — to do the bad man thing," Pallandi testified.
