B.C. court hears testimony that devil told son to kill his father

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A psychiatrist has taken the stand during a Kamloops, B.C., murder trial, testifying that the accused once said he was ordered by the devil to murder his own father.

Joshua Isaac Steel has pleaded not guilty to killing his father Phil in September 2011, and prosecution and defence lawyers agree he isn’t responsible for the death because of a mental disorder.

The courtroom, packed with family members, has now heard from psychiatrist Dr. Sam Iskander who detailed Steel’s history of psychotic tendencies leading up to the bludgeoning death of his father.

The court heard Steel was in and out of hospital in February 2011, and in the days preceding the death had become unresponsive.

Iskander says Steel told him that on the day of the killing, he was ordered by the devil to murder his own father.

Iskander says Steel is now on medication for schizophrenia and depression and no longer displays symptoms of psychosis.(CFJC)