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.
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