B.C. man accused of killing uncle says his mental health not issue at trial

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A man accused of murdering his uncle muttered to himself repeatedly and turned often to stare at people in a B.C. courtroom as details of a grisly killing were revealed.

Shane Gyoba, 29, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ed Gyoba.

RCMP Sgt. Paul Bouwman showed hundreds of photos of the crime scene — mostly the yard of a home in Ashcroft, where the body was found.

Gyoba died from blunt-force trauma to the head, resulting in a fractured skull and fractured nose, Crown lawyer Neil Flanagan told B.C. Supreme Court on Monday, as the trial opened.

Flanagan said he expects a neighbour to describe what he witnessed on June 2, 2014.

At one point, while Flanagan was addressing concerns that might be raised about Gyoba’s mental health, the accused said,”Mr. Shane Gyoba is not mentally ill. Mr. Ed Gyoba was.” (Kamloops This Week)