Quebec mom charged with attempted murder of children
CBC News
Posted: Oct 12, 2011 10:05 AM ET
Last Updated: Oct 12, 2011 5:51 PM ET
The woman's husband told police his wife had tried to drown their four-year-old and six-year-old in the bathtub and then tried to take her own life Sunday morning.
(CBC)
A Saint-Eustache, Que., woman accused of trying to drown and electrocute her two children has been charged with two counts of attempted murder.
The 31-year-old appeared in court in St-Jérôme, Que., on Wednesday, where both the Crown and the defence agreed to schedule two psychological assessments to determine whether she is mentally and physically able to stand trial.
Police said the woman's husband told them the incident woke him up early Sunday morning.
"It was the screams of the children that woke their father," said Const. Normand Brulotte of the Saint-Eustache police.
He told police his wife had tried to drown the four-year-old and six-year-old in the bathtub and then tried to take her own life.
According to the charges, the mother tried to drown and electrocute the older child, and tried to electrocute the younger child.
The mother and the children were taken to hospital. The children were not injured, but the mother was said to be suffering from psychological distress.
The children are currently in the father's care.
The family members involved cannot be named because of a publication ban.
Neighbourhood in shock
Saint-Eustache, Que., is a suburban community west of Montreal. (CBC)Neighbours said they hadn't noticed any problems within the family.
"Our kids play a little bit together, so something like that, it's a shock," said neighbour Joey Lipiec.
Another neighbour, Nancy Lussier, said she's still trying to figure out how to explain to her children what happened.
"She's a woman we all spent time with, we went on walks together, and our children are all friends," said Lussier.
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