A forensic psychiatrist says he and his colleagues saw changing and concerning behaviour from Kyle Gemin shortly after he was charged with killing his grandfather.
The testimony from Dr. Graham Glancy came in the fourth week of Gemin's second-degree murder trial in a Guelph Superior Court.
The trial is now focused on evidence presented by the defence.
Defence attorney David Newton told the jury this week they’d heard "very little" medical evidence from the Crown’s case.
In contrast, he said, the defence aims to illustrate the extent of Gemin’s mental health issues.
Kyle Gemin is accused of killing his grandfather George Gemin in July 2020 at the home they shared on Poplar Place in the Maple Leaf Acres trailer park in Belwood.
Glancy – who works a couple days a week at Maplehurst Correctional Complex where Gemin is being held – made note of Gemin's behaviour beginning July 10, just a week and a half after he was arrested.
"Eight days after his admission, he was noted by the mental health nurse to be demanding his release, stating that there are no jails, no police, no society and he wants to exercise his right to euthanasia," Glancy told the court.
Gemin was placed on a high-risk suicide watch, but Glancy took him off on July 13.
Glancy said he saw Gemin that day, and noted while he "deteriorated over the weekend," he "didn't seem to be suicidal."
He didn't see Gemin again until Sept. 10, when he noted Gemin "smeared his (cell) door with feces."
"He claimed to be harassed by the correctional officers," Glancy said, adding Gemin made comments about Russian subs, the UN, made the conclusion Gemin was "diluted and paranoid" and filed an application under the Mental Health Act.
Glancy said Gemin was sent to a mental health hospital in Oakville for a psychiatric assessment.
He said he was there for about 24 hours, but it's not clear if he was given any medication.
Glancy said Gemin was later prescribed medication, which has changed over time, and is still taking some today.
Overall, Glancy said he and his colleagues noticed periodic episodes of about 24 hours each, where Gemin would "experience the delusions of hallucinations … hearing voices throughout his day."
"He still exhibits the deficits and negative symptoms of schizophrenia," he said. "As well as some of the positive symptoms."
The Crown will begin cross-examination of Glancy Thursday afternoon.
-With files from Richard Vivian.
