Psych centre can’t control killer, review board hears Wiebe not wanted here

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This article was published 06/10/2009 (6169 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s only secure psychiatric facility wants a mentally ill killer shipped out of the province because they can no longer control his extreme risk to staff, patients and the public.

Joey Wiebe was caught last month hiding a knife, drugs, alcohol and cash in the ceiling tiles of his private room at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. He also lit his pants on fire in another incident, prompting all doors to the facility to be automatically opened. Wiebe was also caught with a key that allowed him access to several rooms in the building and was believed to be planning a violent escape.

Wiebe, 26, was also involved in a romance with a psychiatric nursing student who was hired earlier this year and quickly assigned to be his lone escort during several off-site day trips in which he obtained the contraband. Love letters from the woman — who has since been fired — were also found in Wiebe’s room.

"Clearly this represents a gross breach of security. This causes us to profoundly reconsider how he’s doing and where he’s at," Dr. Steven Kraemer, Wiebe’s treating psychiatrist, testified Monday at his annual Criminal Code Review Board hearing.

Kraemer said Selkirk officials consider this incident the final straw.

"He has shown the ability to circumvent our security. We could not manage his return to our facility, even in the high-risk area," he said.

Kraemer suggested maximum-security facilities in Saskatchewan and British Columbia would be better fits. Kraemer said the fact Wiebe struck up a relationship with an employee shows how manipulative he can be, adding there are other staff members who are "enamoured with him."

Wiebe appeared at Monday’s hearing without a lawyer and was allowed to cross-examine the two witnesses and make his own arguments.

"I don’t fear Selkirk. Selkirk fears me," Wiebe said bluntly.

Security was high in court, with five sheriff’s officers guarding a handcuffed and shackled Wiebe. They refused Wiebe’s request for a pen to take notes, issuing him a dull pencil instead.

"The conditions I’ve been subjected to are 90 per cent of the reason these incidents have transpired," said Wiebe. "There’s a lot of lies and half-truths here."

Wiebe has caused repeated problems for staff since being found not criminally responsible in 2001 for the murder of his stepmother, Candis Moizer, at their home in Niverville. Her throat was slit and her bedroom set on fire. Doctors say Wiebe is difficult to treat because he doesn’t suffer from a specific psychotic disorder that can be controlled through medication. Defence experts at his trial found he was suffering from a brief mental "episode" caused by his personality disorder at the time of the killing.

Kraemer believes Wiebe faked his mental illness and should be in prison. Wiebe has stated he now wishes he were behind bars because he fears he will never be released from Selkirk. Wiebe previously escaped in 2006 and spent three weeks on the run.

The latest incident occurred in early September when a security guard heard a noise coming from Wiebe’s room and discovered him removing a ceiling tile. Wiebe allegedly assaulted and bit a guard during a subsequent scuffle. Wiebe was immediately removed from Selkirk and placed in the high-risk ward at the Winnipeg Remand Centre, where he remains on charges including assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and mischief.

Crown attorney Corrine Deegan revealed new details Monday and told board members that RCMP have "barely scratched the surface" of their ongoing criminal investigation, which includes searching a cellular phone and laptop computer Wiebe had access to. Police are probing whether other staff members and patients may have assisted Wiebe.

"That is a very real possibility," Kraemer admitted under questioning from the board.

Wiebe told police he obtained the knife and alcohol while on an escorted outing with the nurse he was later found to be involved with. Wiebe claims he had help from at least one other patient at Selkirk Mental Health Centre who wasn’t in the high-security area. He was never searched upon returning to the facility because their policy at the time didn’t require it based on the fact he had been escorted, court was told.

Wiebe says marijuana was thrown over the fence to him at Selkirk by another patient on the outside.

Dr. Lawrence Ellerby, who has worked on Wiebe’s case, said Monday that Wiebe may be developing a feeling that "he’s got nothing to lose" based on his ongoing frustrations and disciplinary issues. "He feels like he’s not able to move forward with his life at all," said Ellerby.

Selkirk Mental Health Centre announced major security upgrades last week. The review board is expected to announce a decision later this week about Wiebe’s future.

www.mikeoncrime.com