Quebec woman accused in newborn kidnapping deemed fit to stand trial

TROIS-RIVIERES, Que. – A woman accused of kidnapping a newborn baby from a Trois-Rivieres maternity ward has been declared fit to stand trial.

Valerie Poulin Collins will now head to a detention centre until her next court date on June 18.

A judge heard today that a doctor has declared the 21-year-old fit after observing her over several days at a Shawinigan hospital.

Police arrested Poulin Collins outside her home on May 26, about three hours after a woman posing as a nurse snatched a 16-hour-old infant from a local hospital.

The baby girl was returned to her parents unharmed.

Officers were able to find Poulin Collins with the help of locals who recognized the woman from a surveillance video still sent out with an Amber Alert.

Poulin Collins faces two charges: one of kidnapping and one of abducting a person under 14 years old.

The abduction charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison while kidnapping draws a sentence ranging from five years to life.

Her lawyer, Karine Bussiere, suggested to the court today that her client have access to mental-health specialists while detained.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.