Calgary man, 86, charged with killing wife unfit to stand trial: judge
CALGARY — A judge has ruled an 86-year-old Calgary man charged with killing his wife will not stand trial, agreeing with a psychiatrist that Siegfried van Zuiden’s worsening dementia has rendered him medically unfit.
Judge Allan Fradsham made his decision Friday after hearing testimony from psychiatrist Kenneth Hashman, who said the senior does not understand the charge against him, is disoriented to time and place and has become less able to care for himself.
“It’s my opinion that this is quite a severe degree of dementia,” Hashman told the court.
Van Zuiden was charged in October with second-degree murder after he called 911 and police found his 80-year-old wife, Audrey, dead in their home.