Mitchell Rose (VOCM News)
A St. John’s man charged with three counts of attempted murder following a violent outburst in a west end apartment building has been deemed fit to stand trial.
Thirty-two-year-old Mitchell Rose has been in custody at the forensic unit in the new mental health centre since December 9th.
He was arrested a day earlier near the scene of the crime on Anspach Street, where it’s alleged he tried to kill two women and a man inside the building, and said to have assaulted another man nearby.
In addition to attempted murder, he’s charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats, though police have not said what kind of weapon was involved.
Rose appeared again by phone from the hospital, where he was informed that he passed the fitness test and could apply for bail. However, court was told he has consented to remain in custody at the hospital, for now, as his case moves through the courts.
Rose sounded alert and coherent as he was read of list of people he can’t have contact with.
His family says he has schizophrenia but was discharged without their knowledge from a court program that kept him medicated. They say he was in the throes of psychosis when the incident occurred.
Rose’s next court date is set for March 3rd.
