Woman to stand trial in 2018 stabbing death of husband

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This article was published 23/05/2023 (1232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba woman has been found fit to stand trial in the slaying of her 85-year-old husband nearly five years ago.

Anne-Dore Maria Scheppner, 77, was charged with second-degree murder, after Hans George Scheppner was found stabbed to death July 21, 2018, inside their Henderson Highway apartment.

At the time, Winnipeg police said the man had been dead nearly a week when his wife was arrested.

Scheppner has been held at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre since she was found unfit to stand trial in July 2019. She has never applied for bail.

A person found unfit to stand trial is considered unable by mental disorder to participate in their defence. In particular, they are unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or the possible consequences and are unable to communicate with counsel.

According to a psychiatric report completed in March, Scheppner’s condition has improved to the point she is now fit to stand trial, Crown and defence lawyers told King’s Bench Justice Joan McKelvey.

“There is indication that Ms. Scheppner has demonstrated stability in her current environment and has continued to demonstrate gradual further improvement in her mental status with ongoing, stable treatment,” McKelvey said, referencing the psychiatric report.

“The assessment indicates she no longer presents as unfit to stand trial and would be expected to remain fit to stand trial in a stable environment receiving treatment.”

Scheppner has not entered a plea and no trial date has been set.

Defence lawyer Leonard Tailleur asked McKelvey order an assessment to determine whether Scheppner should be found not criminally responsible for her actions, noting previous psychiatric evaluations include “extensive information with respect to a history of schizophrenia.”

Such a finding requires that an accused, suffering from a mental disorder, did not know what they were doing was wrong or that they did not appreciate the nature and quality of their actions.

Crown attorney Vic Bellay supported the request, saying an NCR assessment “is certainly worth investigating.”

“The Crown’s position is that based on all the materials… the information provided demonstrate not only a basis for finding she was suffering from a mental illness at the time, but that there is significant background that has been gathered that would support that particular ground,” Bellay said.

McKelvey ordered an assessment be completed within 30 days, with an extension for up to 60 days.

Scheppner’s next court date is June 28.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca