Doctor who killed children to be released

• Tweet

MONTREAL, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A Canadian doctor found not criminally responsible for the 2009 stabbing deaths of his two children has been granted conditional release, officials said.

A re-evaluation session Wednesday with the Mental Health Assessment Commission at Montreal's Pinel Institute found Guy Turcotte had made enough progress to be released, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Pierre Rochette, the psychiatrist overseeing Turcotte's care, said he is less defensive than when he arrived at the facility.

A jury in St. Jerome Quebec, decided in July, 2011, that Turcotte was not criminally responsible for the 2009 deaths of his children, Anne-Sophie, 3, and Olivier, 5, because of a mental disorder.

The panel rejected charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter. Prosecutors had suggested Turcotte had been angry with his wife, Isabelle Gaston, for cheating on him and killed the children to get back at her.

Turcotte had admitted killing his children, though his attorneys said he had psychological issues and was unaware of what he was doing.

Upon his release, Turcotte must continue to see a psychotherapist and may not have contact with Gaston.