A judge in Canada has ordered that a teenager accused of stabbing 47-year-old Nigerian woman, Deborah Onwu, to death in Calgary undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment over mental health concerns.
Onwu, a youth care worker at a children’s mental health centre that provides treatment to children, youth and families, Wood’s Home, was fatally stabbed by her client Brandon Jacob Spencer Newman, 18.
The incident reportedly happened on Friday 25 October 2019 in the 1800 block of 27th Avenue S.W., Calgary.
Newman was charged with second-degree murder.
The deceased’s sister, Nancy Euwangue, flew from her home in England to Canada as Newman makes a court appearance on Monday, 4th November 2019.
Demanding justice for her sibling, Euwangue revealed that Onwu moved to Canada from Nigeria 23 years ago and often spoke about the dangers of her job.
“I want to be here because I want justice,” Calgary ctvnews quoted Euwangue as saying on the sidelines of Newman’s court appearance.
“It’s a long way from home but I have to be here. What happened to Debbie shouldn’t happen to another family. I know the pain my family is going through, my siblings, all of us.
“She was my soulmate. Debbie is someone I could tell everything and she would keep it to herself. Debbie was my adviser. Debbie was my mentor.”
Newman is in custody and appeared in court via closed-circuit TV.
A judge ordered him to undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre to assess his fitness to stand trial. He is to be back in court Dec. 2.
Newman’s lawyer, Allan Fay, has described Newman as extremely childlike and has said it’s doubtful the man is capable of properly instructing a lawyer for his defence.
“I have no grievances against this young man whatsoever, but it doesn’t make sense to me that he needs to see a doctor,” said Euwangue.
“I need answers. Nobody’s giving me the answers that I need. How can one person stab someone?”
The Canadian Union of Public Employees has said Newman has a violent history and required two-on-one care for his complex health needs.
It said another worker was at the home the night Onwu was killed but was on a different floor dealing with another client.
