Emanuel Kahsai sent for psych assessment after bizarre rant in court
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: June 20, 2016 10:59 PM | Last Updated: June 20, 2016
Selma Alem and Julie Tran were found stabbed to death in Alem's home in October
Bizarre conspiracy-related rants have resulted in suspected murderer Emanuel Kahsai being ordered to undergo a 30-day psychological assessment against his will.
Kahsai, 30, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, 54-year-old Selma Alem, and second-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Julie Tran, whose bodies were discovered in Alem's Coventry Hills home in October.
Kahsai told a court psychologist that "NASA and other agencies are using alpha, beta and zeta waves to manipulate the brains of inmates to extract information from them to alter verdicts in the courts," said Dr. David Tano.
Last week, after making similar strange statements to the court, Kahsai was ordered to see Tano who met with Kahsai Monday morning.
Tano told the judge after the assessment that he has concerns about Kahsai's fitness to stand trial.
Kahsai told Tano that he believes the psychologist he saw at the Calgary Remand Centre was being paid to keep him on his medications in an effort to prolong his illness.
Kahsai ignored Judge Jim Ogle's warning that he was being represented by an experienced and capable lawyer who should speak for him and instead, insisted on telling the court of his concerns regarding the Calgary Remand Centre.
"Judges and correctional officers are in on it," he said of his belief that inmates' brains were being manipulated. "How far this goes up, I'm not sure — that alone is grounds for acquittal."
After Kahsai's rant, Ogle agreed with Tano's recommendation and ordered the accused to undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment.
In the months leading up to her death, court documents showed that Alem was scared of her son and had sought protection against him.
Kahsai will be back in court on July 18 after the assessment has been completed. A preliminary inquiry has been set for November.
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