Guy Turcotte at low risk to re-offend: psychiatrist

A psychiatrist for Guy Turcotte told a mental health review board Friday that the former cardiologist found not criminally responsible for killing his two children is not likely to re-offend.

The hearings at the Philippe Pinel Institute began last fall to determine whether Turcotte should be released from detention.

Turcotte admitted to stabbing his children, Anne-Sophie, 3, and Olivier, 5, to death in February 2009, in a rented home north of Montreal. The 39-year-old physician was charged with first-degree murder, but denied intent. In 2011, a jury decided Turcotte was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killings.

Turcotte's psychiatrist Dr. Dominque Bourget told the review board Turcotte's behaviour in 2009 was linked to severe depression. She said Turcotte is now getting his depression under control.

She said based on her assessment of his past, she believes he is at low risk to commit such a crime again.

In November, another psychiatrist who examined Turcotte said he should be detained for at least another year for treatment.

Turcotte spoke at the hearing Thursday and told the review board he wants therapy and eventually wants to return to practicing medicine.