A psychiatric report has found a man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting six women east of Calgary is fit to stand trial but his lawyer wants the court to order another hearing before the long-delayed matter resumes.
Richard Robert Mantha faces 20 charges that include kidnapping, threats causing bodily harm, sexual assault with a weapon and administering a noxious substance on the women, most of whom worked in Calgary’s sex trade.
The 60-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
Most of the alleged offences occurred at a rural property east of Calgary.
His trial began in January but was delayed after he fired his two lawyers.
Mantha suffered a stroke in May while in custody waiting for his trial to resume on Nov. 18.
An assessment was ordered to allow a forensic psychiatrist to determine how the stroke may have affected his cognitive capacity
A letter from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Reilly Smith said that Mantha is fit …