A mental health group attending the criminal harassment trial of former SCTV and Saturday Night Live star Tony Rosato says the justice system has let the mentally ill man down.

'We can be very frightened by people who are not well mentally.' — June Conway Beeby, mental health advocate

Speaking Thursday outside the Kingston courtroom where the trial is taking place, June Conway Beeby, former executive director of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, said there is no system in place that properly takes into account Rosato's illness, diagnosed as Capgras syndrome.

Capgras syndrome is manifested by Rosato's belief that his family has been replaced with impostors.

"This poor soul needs treatment," said Conway Beeby.

She added that with treatment, people with the syndrome can get their lives back on track.

Rosato has not had access to treatment, as he has been in jail two years awaiting a trial that finally began this week.

Without treatment, the illness will continue to make prisoners of both him and his wife, who has been left without a husband and a father for their child, Conway Beeby said.

"And it's left her with fear, which I understand," she added. "We can be very frightened by people who are not well mentally."

Wife doesn't want to see Rosato in court

Rosato's wife Leah, who alleges that Rosato harassed her, wants to testify without having to see her husband in court, generating a long discussion Thursday among lawyers.

It was suggested that a dark screen could be used to obscure Rosato's face, or that his wife could testify by closed circuit television.

Rosato's lawyer, Daniel Brodsky, argued that such suggestions were premature.

"This is putting the cart before the horse," he said, adding that usually such accommodations aren't brought up unless a witness actually runs into trouble.