Howard Richmond criminally responsible for killing wife, psychiatrist testifies

Canadian solider Howard Richmond knew what he was doing when he stabbed his wife to death in July 2013, even though hewasdepressed and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder at the time, a psychiatrist testified at Richmond's first-degree murder trial.

• IN DEPTH |Howard Richmond trial coverage

Dr. DerekPallandiassessed Richmond over two days in July 2015, twoyears after the death of 28-year-old Melissa Richmond.

Richmond, 53, admitted to killing his wifeat the outset of his trial in September but haspleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. His lawyers have argued he is not criminally responsible because he was suffering from PTSDat the time of the killing, brought on by six tours of duty.

'Not of sufficient severity'

Pallandi testified Thursday thatRichmond's mental health issues were "not of sufficient severity" to stop him from knowing that his actions were wrong although he admitted it was"problematic" that he was tasked withassessing Richmond's mental state so long after the killing.

Forensic psychologist Charles Ewingtestified for the defence earlier this week that it tookRichmond nine months to recallthathe stabbed his wife to death because he was suffering from traumatic amnesia.

After the defence rested its case Tuesday, the Crown calledPallandias an another expert who examined Richmond.

Pallandi told courthe believes Richmond is criminally responsible for killing his wife.

"People can be very mentally ill, but you can't say by definition this person is not criminally responsible," Pallandi testified.

Psychiatrist challenges flashback

In October, Richmond testified through tearsthat heheard a loud noisethat reminded him of his traumatic tour inCroatia in 1992 which turned what was supposed to be a consensual-yet-violentsexual encounterinto a fatal attack.

On Thursday,Pallandichallenged Richmond's claimthat a loud noise prompted adissociativeflashback the night of the killing.

"You don't just hear a loud sharp sound and suddenly kill someone,"Pallanditestified. "It's difficult for me to understand how making a noise compels homicidal behaviour."

Court previously heard that Melissa Richmond was having an affair and planned to leave her husband days before she was killed.

You don't just hear a loud sharp sound and suddenly kill someone.- Dr. DerekPallandi

During their sessions, Richmond saidhe did not find out about his wife's affair until after he killed her, Pallandi testified Thursday.

Pallandisaid Richmond told him that it wasa huge mistake that he was being prosecuted, because he loved his wife and had no reason to hurt her.

Pallanditestified that he believed Richmond was more aware of his wife's affair than he was letting on.

Killing happened during sex role-playing game

On the night of her death, Richmond's wife had urged him to act out a "rape fantasy" in which he was a "bad man," Pallandi testified.

Richmond previously told court that he waited in the bushes in a ravine near South Keys Shopping Centre with a knife and screwdriver, after he and his wife took separate vehicles from their home late on July 24, 2013.

Pallandisaid Richmond explained to himthat theknife and screwdriver were meant to be used to cut off his wife's clothes,but he wasconcerned she wanted him tousethe weapons tomark and bruise her body.

Richmond also revealed during the assessment that he told his wife he was considering going to a march while wearing his uniform todraw attention to PTSD and that his wife said "If you're well enough to do that, you're well enough to have sex to do the bad man thing," Pallandi testified.