MONTREAL — Another forensic psychiatrist who analyzed Luka Rocco Magnotta says he came to the conclusion he was suffering a schizophrenia-linked psychotic episode when he killed and dismembered Jun Lin.
Dr. Joel Watts met with Magnotta between September 2012 and September 2013 and says his evaluation led him to conclude that while the accused was aware of what he was doing, he could not appreciate that it was wrong.
Magnotta has admitted to killing Lin in May 2012, but has pleaded not guilty by way of mental disorder.
The Crown contends the slaying was planned and deliberate.
Watts is the eighth defence witness to take the stand in Magnotta's first-degree murder trial, which is ending its seventh week today.
His assessment is similar to that of another psychiatrist hired by the defence, Marie-Frederique Allard, who said Magnotta's schizophrenia was out of control in May 2012.
Watts was the doctor who accompanied Montreal police to Berlin to arrest Magnotta after German authorities decreed that a psychiatrist had to be present before they handed him over in June 2012.
Watts observed Magnotta and provided medication as needed on the flight back to Canada.
He was later hired by the defence to conduct an assessment of Magnotta's criminal responsibility.
Watts met face-to-face with Magnotta for about 38 hours in 2012 and 2013. He also saw him for a few hours last month.
He signed off on his final report in February 2014 and called the evaluation the most difficult of his career.
