Psychiatric evaluation ordered for accused in 3-year-old’s kidnapping
CRANBROOK, B.C.—Accused child abductor Randall Hopley will remain in police custody for two months while undergoing a psychiatric assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.
“Mr. Hopley is tired and exhausted,”gucci outlet Cranbrook lawyer William Thorne said shortly after his client was whisked in and out of court here in a whirlwind early-morning hearing. “I understand he was taken down by a dog.”
Hopley, 46, arrived at the Cranbrook courthouse in an RCMP minivan and tried to cover his head with a shirt to avoid TV cameras. He was handcuffed and wore black pants.
He had spent the previous night at the RCMP detachment in Cranbrook after being captured early Tuesday by police with search dogs who were combing the mountainous B.C.-Alberta border near Crowsnest Pass.
Hopley, who has a history of offences involving minors, is charged with breaking and entering, kidnapping, and abduction of a child under 14 years of age. The charges are all in connection with the five-day disappearance of three-year-old Kienan Hebert of Sparwood, B.C., a coal-mining and resort town about 150 kilometres east of here.
In what many are calling a miracle, the boy’s abductor returned him safely to his family home early Sunday before slipping away without being detected by police.
“Mr. Hopley has a story to tell, and eventually his story will come out,” Thorne told reporters. “It’s a very unusual circumstance.”
Thorne said he did not know if his client had been placed on a suicide watch but said he wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.
“I’m more concerned about his safety in custody,” he said, referring to the danger of attack by other prisoners.
Hopley was likely to be held in a prison in Kelowna, the lawyer said.
“Mr. Hopley is very sorry for being in the situation he is in.”
Meanwhile, Brandon Johnson, 25, who described himself as a longtime friend of Hopley, told reporters outside the courthouse that he feared for the man’s life.
“They should get him into a facility where they can help him,” Johnson said. “If he goes to prison, he’ll die.”
Describing Hopley as “a great guy” who would “give the shirt off his back to anybody,” Johnson attributed his friend’s alleged behaviour to his failure to take prescribed medication.
“If he doesn’t take his meds, he’s a different person,” Johnson said.
Johnson also said he received a phone call from Hopley prior to his arrest Tuesday in which the wanted man expressed remorse for his actions.
He quoted the man as saying, “My life is over. I gotta go.”
A smattering of Cranbrook residents demanded that no mercy be shown for the accused man.
“I believe he deserves the death penalty without trial,” said Sarah Murray, who wore placards over her shoulders calling for the execution of sex offenders.
Several passersby echoed those sentiments, but they seemed to be a small minority of local residents, most of whom seemed unaware that Hopley’s court hearing was taking place.
Three-year-old Kienan Hebert was in good health following his mysterious return to his family home Sunday. It remains something of a mystery how his abductor was able to bring the boy back while eluding police.
RCMP Inspector Brendan Fitzpatrick said Tuesday the police had hoped the boy would be returned to some safe location but did not dream it would be to his home, which was unlocked and unoccupied at the time.
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