Skip to content

Court orders psych report for West Van teen accused of mother's attempted murder

A judge has ordered a psychiatric assessment for a 16-year-old boy who has been charged with the attempted murder of his mother. A North Vancouver provincial court judge ordered the assessment after lawyers briefly discussed the case in court May 5.
NV provincial court

A judge has ordered a psychiatric assessment for a 16-year-old boy who has been charged with the attempted murder of his mother.

A North Vancouver provincial court judge ordered the assessment after lawyers briefly discussed the case in court May 5.

The teen was arrested after allegedly attacking his 59-year-old mother in her apartment in the 2000-block of Bellevue Avenue April 28, possibly while in a delusional state. The mother was only able to escape her apartment with the help of a friend who was visiting.

Outside the court, the mother told the North Shore News her son chased her with a steak knife as she ran from the apartment.

It’s not the first time the teen has been violent towards her, she said.

The mother said her son was in government care for many years and was moved through many different foster homes.

She said she’s afraid he hasn’t got the help he needs.

“He fell through the cracks,” she said.

The mother added there were warning signs something was wrong before the incident 10 days earlier. The boy’s school had reported problems and the teen was staying up all night and not sleeping, she said.

A youth group pastor with a local church who came to court with the mother this week said when he first got to know the teen “he was just a normal person.”

But recently, that changed dramatically, he said.

“He was not there,” said his mother. “His mind snapped.”

A Crown prosecutor told the judge in court the boy has a history of mental illness and was hearing voices when he was arrested.

The case is due back in court later this month.