A woman who was arrested in Laval for allegedly trying to kidnap an eight-year-old girl must undergo a psychiatric evaluation, a judge ruled on Friday.
The 54-year-old suspect was supposed to undergo a bail hearing but a judge said she instead must undergo the evaluation at the Pinel Institute.
Her defence attorney Serge Raby said his client is extremely depressed.
“She was not feeling quite well that's why I was asking that she has the chance to see somebody,” he said.
A report will be presented in court on July 8 and the judge will determine if and when she’ll have a bail hearing.
The woman faces charges of kidnapping a person under 16, extortion and wearing a disguise with the intent to commit a crime in connection with the abduction. Her identity cannot be revealed due to a publication ban.
Crown prosecutor Brenda Toucado said she'll be pushing for the woman to stay behind bars.
“The accusations that the accused is facing are very serious. There is a minimum sentence of five years on the first count, which is kidnapping a person under 16 years, so that's why mainly we are objecting to the release and also for the safety of the victim in the file,” said Toucado.
Police have said the woman knew the girl and a “family dispute” was at the root of the incident.
