Man who cut cell-tower cables found not criminally responsible

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This article was published 27/09/2024 (580 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A judge found a man who was found guilty of cutting the cables to a cell tower in Erickson in 2020 not criminally responsible due to delusional disorder.

In a hearing in Brandon provincial court Thursday afternoon, a forensic psychiatrist testified to her findings in assessing Brent Ritchie as suffering from a mental disorder when he committed his offence four years ago.

The 60-year-old was found guilty of mischief after a trial in October 2023 for cutting cables to a cell tower that provided internet to the community of Erickson. He was also found guilty of possessing multiple loaded weapons in his home.

The incident left Erickson residents without internet during the December holidays at the height of the pandemic.

At Thursday’s hearing, the court heard from Dr. Shauna Sawich, who testified that it was her medical opinion that Ritchie was suffering from a delusional disorder that made him feel that he was being targeted, tortured and threatened, and therefore needing to act in a way to protect himself.

Ritchie maintained through the hearing that he believes he has post-traumatic stress disorder, not delusional disorder, and that he was acting in self-defence.

Sawich said that at the time of the offence, Ritchie was experiencing delusional beliefs, paranoia and auditory hallucinations.

The psychiatrist explained the difference between delusional disorder and PTSD, noting that a delusional disorder is a symptom of psychosis.

“Delusional disorder … would be someone having fixed, false beliefs, where when information is introduced to them, they’re not able to re-evaluate the beliefs that they have,” she testified.

The court also heard the testimony of a forensic mental health specialist who helped author the report deeming Ritchie not criminally responsible.

He testified that he was tasked with interviewing Ritchie to collect information about his personal and family background.

The Crown asked that the judge find Ritchie not criminally responsible, while Ritchie’s appointed defence counsel emphasized the “sad case” of the 60-year-old spending a long time in custody due to the court process.

Associate Chief Judge Donovan Dvorak said the evidence he heard at last year’s trial and at the Thursday afternoon hearing led him to agree with the report’s finding that Ritchie was suffering from a mental disorder when he damaged the internet tower. The judge cited evidence he heard at trial about Ritchie hearing voices and believing that the internet tower was connected to that.

“We don’t find people criminally responsible for things when they’re not morally responsible, so in your mind you didn’t believe what you’re doing was wrong for protecting yourself,” the judge said.

Ritchie remains in custody awaiting a disposition hearing by the Manitoba Criminal Code Review Board. The board will take into account public safety, the mental condition of the accused, the reintegration of the accused into society and the needs of the accused. It will hold a disposition hearing every year while Ritchie remains under its jurisdiction.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @geena_mortfield