British Columbia

Man accused of killing Abbotsford teen says he hears voices 'every hour of the day'

Gabriel Klein is accused of fatally stabbing a 13-year-old girl inside her Abbotsford high school in November 2016. The B.C. Review Board is currently deliberating if Klein is mentally fit to stand trial.

The Crown, defence and medical experts agree Klein is unfit to stand trial

Gabriel Klein, captured on surveillance video in November 2016, hours before allegedly stabbing two female students at a high school in Abbotsford, B.C. Klein has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault. (IHIT/Twitter)

A man with schizophrenia accused of fatally stabbing a 13-year-old girl inside her Abbotsford, B.C., high school says he's eager to face the charges against him but he remains plagued by voices "every hour of the day."

Gabriel Klein made the comments during a review board hearing at a forensic psychiatric hospital to determine his mental fitness to stand trial.

The 22-year-old says he wants to go to court as soon as possible to face charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault for an attack on another Grade 9 girl in November 2016.

But Klein says court is stressful and he has trouble concentrating because the voices are constantly distracting him.

Psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Kolchak says some voices command Klein to commit acts of violence, such as attacking people in the shower, but he has not obeyed these violent commands in recent months.

The Crown, defence and hospital agree Klein is currently unfit to stand trial and needs more treatment, but review board chairman Bernd Walter says the decision would be reserved as the three-member panel takes time to consider a ruling.

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