Detective testifies he had no concerns about the “mental state” of the defendant accused of killing a Muslim family in London, Ontario

WARNING: This story contains disturbing details:

The detective who interviewed Nathaniel Feltman in the hours after a Muslim family was hit by his pickup truck in London, Ont., in June 2021, testified Tuesday that he had no concerns about the accused killer’s mental health.

London Police Det. Micah Bordeaux was questioned Tuesday at the 22-year-old’s murder and terrorism trial in Ontario Superior Court in Windsor. He told defense lawyer Chris Hicks he was not concerned about the defendant’s assertions that he was “shaken”, “shaken” and “in shock”.

“I would have been more concerned if he hadn’t been shaken,” Bourdeaux said during his second day on the witness stand.

Feltman faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, in addition to related terrorism charges. Five members of Afzal’s family were on an evening walk on June 6, 2021, when they were hit by the accused’s truck.

Yamna Afzal, 15 years old, her parents, Madiha Salman, 44 years old, and Salman Afzal, 46 years old, and the mother of the family, Talaat Afzal, 74 years old, were killed. A boy who was nine years old at the time survived.

Earlier in the trial, the Crown and defense lawyers agreed on a number of facts that would not be disputed, including that the defendant drove the black Dodge Ram pickup truck into the family.

Prosecutors allege that Afzal’s family was targeted because they wore traditional Pakistani clothing and were Muslims, and the accused was motivated by far-right nationalist ideology. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his defense lawyers disagree about how he was treated after his arrest, first in police cells and then during interrogation by Bordeaux.

The suspect’s mental health was questioned

During questioning on Tuesday, Bordeaux said he had “no concerns” about the accused.

He added: “He said he was shaking a little from shock, but he said he was fine. I had no concerns about his mental state.”

“He told you: ‘I didn’t enjoy it. I need some time to adjust to myself.'” Isn’t this a clear sign of his mental state?” Hicks asked.

“To me, given today’s events, it seemed normal,” the detective replied.

Purdue interviewed the defendant twice after his arrest – once on the night of the attack and in the early morning hours, and again at approximately 9:30 a.m. ET on June 7, 2021.

Video footage of police interviews was submitted as evidence in court. Earlier in the trial, a video watched by the jury showed the defendant walking through his cell while being detained after the attack.

In the first interview with the investigator, the defendant continues to make what he calls “loud statements” about crimes he sees as being committed by minorities against white people, about dishonesty in the media and the inability of “Western governments” to allow people with nationalist tendencies. Points of view to express themselves.

In the second interview, Feltman seemed calmer.

Hicks suggested to Bordeaux that police protocol was to keep defendants cold, hungry and uncomfortable, which Bordeaux denied.

Trial proceedings, expected to last eight weeks, began on September 11.

It continues Wednesday.