Accused in Eastern College knife attack to undergo assessment

A Fredericton man charged in connection with a knife attack at Eastern Collegethat sent three people to hospital last month has been ordered to undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment.

Luke Thomas Walter Powers, 31, is facing twocounts of indictable aggravated assault, and one count of indictable assault.

He has not yet entered any pleas.

One instructorand twostudents suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious from a large, long-bladed machete-style knife on Jan. 20.

Powers was expected to have a bail hearing on Friday.

There is a publication ban on evidence presented or representations made during the court proceedings.

Powers is being sent to the Restigouche Hospital Center in Campbellton and is scheduled to return to court on March 11.

Friends of Powers, who was with the military, have said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Defence lawyerT.J. Burke had previously requested a 14-day adjournment in order to gather medical information onhis client.

Police were called about a disturbance at the college on Prospect Street about 8:25 a.m. By the time officers arrived, students and staff had managed to subdue the suspect.