A man confessed to killing a woman whose remains were found near Innisfail during a trial in Kamloops earlier this month.
Mark Damien Lindsay was on trial in Kamloops for slashing a police officer when he confessed in court that he'd killed Dana Turner.
“He says it wasn't murder. He says he killed her, but it was self-defense,” said Crown prosecutor Will Burrows. Burrows represented the Crown during Lindsay's trial for attacking a police officer.
Burrows said the judge has had Lindsay remanded into custody for 30 days for psychiatric evaluation to determine if Lindsay is criminally responsible in the charges he was on trial for. He was on trial for charges of robbery, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and aggravated assault with regards to an attack on an undercover RCMP officer near Barriere, B.C. in September 2011.
The psychiatric assessment was due to start after the conclusion of a second trial in Kamloops for a charge of aggravated assault. Lindsay allegedly stabbed a fellow inmate in October 2011.
Lindsay is charged with second degree murder, attempted obstruction of justice and interfering with a dead body with regards to Turner's death. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the Court of Queen's Bench in Red Deer starting Jan. 8, 2013.
Turner's remains were found about 10 kilometres west of Innisfail in October 2011. She'd been reported missing to the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP in August 2011.
Lindsay's parents released a statement after their son's confession in court. His father, John Lindsay, is a former Edmonton police chief and now is a deacon with the Edmonton Catholic Church diocese.
“We are very greatly saddened by the profound pain of all who have suffered in the events described this week in Kamloops,” the statement from John and Louise Lindsay says.
The statement goes on to ask people to pray for Turner and her family, for the injured RCMP officer, the injured inmate and for their son, the accused.
“As parents, we love our son,” it says. The statement says they could not be present for their son's court proceedings due to health issues.
