It is feared that a young man from Airdrie, accused of killing his mother, suffered a psychotic breakdown at the time of her death.
Alexander James Thorpe, 20, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Melanie Lowen, 48, whose body was found at Airdrie’s home in January.
Thorpe has been detained at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Southern Alberta since his arrest.
An assessment of NCR (non-criminal liability) is performed.
If Thorpe is found to be an NCR, it would mean that there is evidence that he suffered a psychotic breakup during the murder and did not realize that his actions were morally wrong.
On January 13, RCMP and EMS were called to business in the northeastern part of Airdrie and found Thorpe in medical trouble.
Mother “the most important person in his life”
Police found Lowen dead at a nearby home.
“It is clear from the facts of the case that there are some significant mental health problems,” said defense lawyer Balfour Der. “We want to explore this fully now.”
As for whether the NCR’s defense will be raised in the process, Der said he was “certainly on that path right now.”
Trial date not yet booked.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
Der says Thorpe’s mother “was the most important person in his life.”
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