Gyoba trial suspended pending psychiatric assessment

KAMLOOPS — The trial for a 28-year-old Ashcroft man charged with murdering his uncle will not resume until completion of a psychiatric assessment.

Shane Takeshi Gyoba’s lawyer, Don Campbell, applied for an adjournment of the trial in Kamloops Supreme Court yesterday, Aug. 18 for a psychiatrist to review the accused. The application came shortly after Gyoba delivered testimony.

Crown prosecutor Neil Flanagan says there are roughly five days remaining in the trial.

Throughout many court proceedings, Gyoba had several outbursts in court under the supervision of several sheriffs. Justice Dev Dley ordered him to remain quiet twice and warned him he may be removed from the courtroom.

Until results are in, it’s unknown if Campbell will pursue a finding that his client is not criminally responsible due to mental disorder.

Shane’s uncle, Ed Gyoba, was found dead in his backyard on June 2, 2014. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to his head. Emergency responders found the body wrapped in garbage bags next to a shallow grave.

Court will fix a date to resume the trial late September.

For more stories on the trial, click here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.