Francis Proulx, the man accused of killing an aide to a Quebec cabinet minister, told the jury at his first-degree murder trial on Friday that he felt suddenly compelled to commit a number of crimes last year because he felt "possessed by the devil."
Proulx, 29, described how he broke into homes and robbed depanneurs in the months leading up to the murder of Nancy Michaud, a political aide to Natural Resources Minister Claude B�chard.
Michaud's body was discovered last May in the basement of an abandoned house in Rivi�re-Ouelle, a small town in the Lower St. Lawrence region, about 140 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
The 37-year-old, a wife and mother of two, was shot in the head.
On Thursday, Proulx's lawyer argued that his client cannot be held criminally responsible for Michaud's death, because he suffers from hereditary mental illnesses.
Proulx suffers from Tourette's syndrome and schizophrenia. His lawyer said his mental disorders -- combined with high doses of the antidepressant Effexor -- prevent him from controlling his actions or understanding the consequences of his behaviour.
With files from The Canadian Press
