Woman accused of apartment building arson to undergo assessment

A local woman charged with arson in connection with a June blaze that caused extensive damage to a downtown building will undergo a mental health assessment to determine if she is criminally responsible for her actions.

Lindsay Perrault, 35, will be transported to a Kingston facility for a 30-day assessment, Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek ordered Tuesday.

Her lawyer Jennifer Tremblay-Hall asked the court to make the order, indicating a bed is available for the woman, who is in custody, on Aug. 22.

"It would be in everyone's best interest," she said. "It's not beneficial for her to remain in the remand centre."

After Perrault was initially charged, she had a number of outbursts during video remand appearances, Tremblay-Hall said. "She hears voices in her head."

Prosecutor Matthew Caputo echoed the defence, saying the Crown believes the NCR  (Not Criminally Responsible) assessment is appropriate.

The accused was arrested five days after the June 13 fire at a multi-unit residence on Albert Street East.

It is alleged she went to the building shortly before 6 a.m. and started a fire in a ground-floor unit.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Perrault is charged with arson, disregard for life.

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