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A man from Vancouver Island, facing murder charges related to a fatal hit-and-run incident involving a cyclist, will receive a court-mandated psychiatric evaluation.
Steven Squires is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 54-year-old Rodney Kelly, which occurred on February 8 near Cumberland.
Squires is set to undergo assessment at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital located in Coquitlam, aimed at evaluating his mental capacity during the time of the alleged crime.
Kelly was riding his bicycle on the Comox Valley Parkway when he was struck over a year ago. His situation was discovered by Dave Nuttall, who noticed Kelly’s flashlight glimmering from a ditch as he drove home from work.
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Nuttall recounted to Global News in March 2024, “I realized this had to have been a bad accident because the bike was mangled, the wheels were folded, the frame was bent. I asked Kelly if he was hit by a car, and he insisted that it was ‘preposterous.’”
Unfortunately, Kelly succumbed to his injuries following the accident. Remarkably, the investigation accelerated from suspecting a hit-and-run to filing a first-degree murder charge against Squires within just three days.
Under Canadian law, first-degree murder necessitates premeditation and intent to kill, although there is no requirement for the assailant to have known the victim.
Last Friday, Squires’ defense team presented a request for him to be declared not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder (NCRMD).
The defense argued in court that Squires was not familiar with Kelly and previously had no criminal record. Testimonies revealed that Squires had been previously detained under the Mental Health Act during his high school years, and a family history of schizophrenia exists on his mother’s side. Additionally, it was shared that prior to the incident, Squires experienced a significant period of isolation, during which his mother discovered a drawing depicting him ascending to heaven.
Squires remains in custody, and his next court date is slated for March 24 in Courtenay.
Source
globalnews.ca