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A Canadian soldier who killed his wife in 2013 while in the throes of chronic PTSD has taken the stand in his own defence at his first-degree murder trial.
Howard Richmond stabbed his wife to death with a knife and screwdriver just after midnight on July 25, 2013, and left her body at the edge of a ravine by the South Keys Shopping Centre in Ottawa, a 30-minute drive from their home in Winchester. Richmond, 52, then went home, hid his bloody clothes and weapons in the basement and reported Melissa Richmond, 28, missing the next day.
Richmond’s defence team has admitted that the soldier killed his wife but insist he’s not criminally responsible because he was incapable of forming the intent to kill, let alone know it was wrong.
The jury has heard that Richmond has long suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder because of events he witnessed during a peacekeeping mission in Croatia.
Testifying on Tuesday, Richmond choked back tears as he recounted the day in 1992 when he watched helplessly as a young girl in a sundress was executed just metres away. She was pleading for help, but the Richmond followed orders not to fire unless fired upon.
“It’s something that’s plagued me for the rest of my life,” he testified.
“Even though it was against the rules (of engagement), I should have taken that shot.”
The soldier, diagnosed with PTSD in 2011, told court he’s had trouble forgiving himself for not opening fire.
Richmond also detailed the day he came upon a pregnant woman who had been crucified and disembowelled.
“I lost my trust in humanity,” he told the jury.
Defence lawyer Jason Gilbert has portrayed Richmond as a “valiant” soldier who is “as much a Canadian hero as any of the men and women who donned a uniform and put their lives on the line in their service to this great nation.”
The defence team has suggested that the soldier may have mistaken his wife for someone else while reliving a flashback from the battlefield.
The soldier told the jury that he drank to excess to drown the horrible images and did not seek any psychiatric help for fear of being branded weak, he said.
“If you went for help, it would crush your career,” the Richmond testified.
Melissa Richmond was described in Ottawa court as a “happy, vibrant” woman who was making plans to end her marriage.
“She was on the verge of making changes, but she would not live to see the morning sunlight,” prosecutor Peter Napier told the jury in his opening statements on Sept. 29.
The trial is in its fifth week.
gdimmock@ottawacitizen.com
www.twitter.com/crimegarden
查看原文...
Howard Richmond stabbed his wife to death with a knife and screwdriver just after midnight on July 25, 2013, and left her body at the edge of a ravine by the South Keys Shopping Centre in Ottawa, a 30-minute drive from their home in Winchester. Richmond, 52, then went home, hid his bloody clothes and weapons in the basement and reported Melissa Richmond, 28, missing the next day.
Richmond’s defence team has admitted that the soldier killed his wife but insist he’s not criminally responsible because he was incapable of forming the intent to kill, let alone know it was wrong.
The jury has heard that Richmond has long suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder because of events he witnessed during a peacekeeping mission in Croatia.
Testifying on Tuesday, Richmond choked back tears as he recounted the day in 1992 when he watched helplessly as a young girl in a sundress was executed just metres away. She was pleading for help, but the Richmond followed orders not to fire unless fired upon.
“It’s something that’s plagued me for the rest of my life,” he testified.
“Even though it was against the rules (of engagement), I should have taken that shot.”
The soldier, diagnosed with PTSD in 2011, told court he’s had trouble forgiving himself for not opening fire.
Richmond also detailed the day he came upon a pregnant woman who had been crucified and disembowelled.
“I lost my trust in humanity,” he told the jury.
Defence lawyer Jason Gilbert has portrayed Richmond as a “valiant” soldier who is “as much a Canadian hero as any of the men and women who donned a uniform and put their lives on the line in their service to this great nation.”
The defence team has suggested that the soldier may have mistaken his wife for someone else while reliving a flashback from the battlefield.
The soldier told the jury that he drank to excess to drown the horrible images and did not seek any psychiatric help for fear of being branded weak, he said.
“If you went for help, it would crush your career,” the Richmond testified.
Melissa Richmond was described in Ottawa court as a “happy, vibrant” woman who was making plans to end her marriage.
“She was on the verge of making changes, but she would not live to see the morning sunlight,” prosecutor Peter Napier told the jury in his opening statements on Sept. 29.
The trial is in its fifth week.
gdimmock@ottawacitizen.com
www.twitter.com/crimegarden
查看原文...
