A judge has ordered a 70-year-old man to attend a psychiatric evaluation before he can stand trial for Friday's deadly stabbing in the small town of Vercheres, about 50 kilometres north of Montreal.
Police discovered Ronald Malo's body after arresting Rolland Belzil for the alleged stabbing of the city's general manager Luc Forcier and his assistant Martin Mascotte at city hall earlier in the day.
Currently facing two charges of attempted murder for the alleged attack on the city employees, Belzil will be confined at the Philippe-Pinel psychiatric hospital in Montreal for 30 days.
A not guilty plea was rejected by the judge in Sorel-Tracy, who also headed a warning from doctors that Belzil is suicidal.
"For about 10 years he has had issues of mental health," said police officer Michel Lefebvre. "Is that what led him to do this today. He takes medication, did he forget to take it today? The investigation will determine that."
Sentenced to a three-year restraining order in 2009 for uttering death threats against his neighbour, Malo's family confirmed with CTV News that harassment continued despite the court order prohibiting Belzil from speaking to the family or approaching them.
"This is asking a lot of courage from us. He can't be let out. He measures 6'2". Our children are scared. He can't be allowed out," said a family member.
Malo was found with his throat cut. He is believed to have been killed prior to the suspect's visit to town hall.
According to neighbours, Friday's tragedy may have been triggered when the city ordered Belzile to remove a barrier he had installed on his property line with Malo. A decade-long dispute, the barrier was causing Malo's lawn to flood.
Both Forcier and Mascotte were released from hospital after being treated for wounds to their heads and bodies.
City hall in the town of 5,200 was closed for business on Monday as the community reeled from the shock of the stabbings.
