SAINT-JEROME - Guy Turcotte described the death of his children when a specialist visited him at the Philippe Pinel Institute, and mentioned that he had "heard his son die," according to testimony heard Thursday at Turcotte's double murder trial.

Luc Tanguay's visit to the mental hospital took place on March 7. He is a specialist who had previously helped Turcotte with interpersonal communications.

During the visit, the accused described the events that took place the evening of February 20, 2009, during which he stabbed to death five-year-old Olivier and three-year-old Anne-Sophie.

Turcotte said he put the children to bed and they were asleep. He then conducted Internet research on suicide because he had seen emails between his wife, Isabelle Gaston, and Martin Huot with whom she had a relationship.

Being very upset by the emails, Turcotte said he then drank windshield washer fluid, according to Tanguay.

The accused told Tanguay he had "realized that he was going to die," and he "decided to take his children with him."

Turcotte had collapsed and was overcome with grief when he described the events, Tanguay explained Thursday.

Tanguay said that he had last met with Turcotte three days before the children were killed, and that Turcotte seemed to be improving his mental outlook.

The court case continues Thursday afternoon in St. Jerome

With files from The Canadian Press