A Montreal man charged with trying to strangle a nurse at the Montreal General Hospital two months ago has been declared non-criminally responsible due to mental illness.
Nabil Beriski, 25, admitted in court he acknowledged the events of early September: a nurse was nearly strangled in the psychiatric ward and another nurse was injured coming to her aid.
The judge took into account a recent psychiatric evaluation that concluded Beriski could not be held criminally responsible because of mental health problems - he could not tell right from wrong at the time of the crimes.
The same report found Beriski fit to appear in court.
When questioned by his lawyer Hassen Djemame, Beriski said he had appointed Djemame to represent him.
When asked if he acknowleded the crimes, Beriski answered, "Yes, your Honour, I acknowledge the facts."
Wearing a navy blue windbreaker and black-framed glasses, Beriski appeared calm in court, even smiling and waving at someone he knew in the courtroom.
Beriski will now be detained and treated at the Douglas Hospital.
Beriski will undergo another psychiatric assessment in the next 45 days.
He can only be released if an evaluation committee determines he is no longer a risk to public security.
Since the incident, the MUHC had said that it was re-establishing its overnight security guard in the ER for the time being.
Unions have blamed budget cuts for staffing cuts and reduced security.