The trial of Gregory Allen Despres, 22, will be postponed until March 30 after Judge Judy Clendenning ordered a third assessment of Despres’ fitness to stand trial yesterday morning.

Despres is charged in connection with the murders of folk singer Fred Fulton, 70, and Veronica Decerie, 74, in Minto last April.

Fulton was found decapitated, with his head in a pillowcase. Decarie was stabbed to death.

Despres, who has dual American and Canadian citizenship, was arrested in Massachusetts. He crossed the border with a hatchet, a sword, a bloody chainsaw and brass knuckles. The weapons were confiscated but he was allowed to enter the United States.

Justice Clendenning’s decision came at the request of Despres’s lawyer, Edward Derrah.

“I have grave concerns that my client may not be fit to stand trial,” said Derrah.

He requested that Despres be given an assessment of his mental health.

Despres, in handcuffs for the first time during his trial, frequently interrupted his lawyer. He was allowed to speak after being told to be quiet and sit down several times by Justice Clendenning.

While speaking Despres repeatedly claimed to be a pilot, saying he was above the law and above the court’s jurisdiction. He said the court was run by the RCMP.

“This is a court not wrought by the RCMP Mr. Despres, it’s a court wrought by the Queen,” said Justice Clendenning.

“I want you to understand,” Despres said, “my job is to stop terrorism.”

He then said he no longer wanted anything to do with his lawyer, claiming that he was Jewish and a terrorist.

“The man is an Al-Qaeda terrorist who at one time worked for Saddam Hussein,” he said.

After he finished, Derrah said he could no longer effectively communicate his client because of a decline in Despres’ mental health. He also said Despres could no longer understand the importance of the charges brought against him or make rational decisions about his defence.

Derrah argued that a case in Montreal set a precedent which applied to his client. A psychiatric assessment was ordered for the accused in that case, during its proceedings. The assessment was ordered despite previous examinations by psychologists that found him fit to stand trial.

Thomas Hawkins, one of the crown prosecutors, pointed out that Despres had already been examined by two expert psychologists and was found fit to stand trial.

“The family has hoped for some closure on this,” said Hawkins.

Despite his concerns about the family of the victims, Hawkins agreed an assessment was needed. He requested that the evaluation last sixty days, instead of the standard five, because Despres had been uncooperative with medical examiners in the past.

Justice Clendenning allowed Despres to speak again after Hawkins finished.

“I don’t see any reason, even if you do decide, I don’t see any reason for it to go longer then five days,” he said.

He claimed he could not divulge any information during an assessment because it could lead to his prosecution under the Super Space Patrol laws.

Justice Clendenning said she was now convinced Depres needed another assessment. After hearing him speak she felt it was needed for justice to be served and Depres to have a fair trial.