Epileptic Man Found Not Guilty of Murder

An epileptic man who beat an elderly nun to death in 2007 has been released from prison. His is the first case in Canadian history of anyone using epilepsy as a defence - successful or otherwise - against a murder charge.

Martin Rondeau was staying at a halfway house for people with mental illnesses and drug addictions in Montreal when he was found naked on the roof of the Maison de la Providence. He had no idea how he had gotten there, and was sent to hospital to be examined. Doctors suggested he be tested for epilepsy but Rondeau, who had previously been diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder, decided to wait and see if he had any more seizures.

That was the only seizure Rondeau had until the night he killed Sister Estelle Lauzon. Rondeau was in what has been described as a rare dissociative state brought on by a second seizure, when he apparently attacked the nun and fell on her. She was crushed under his weight.

Psychosis More Common in Epilepsy

Epilepsy is not generally considered a mental illness, but Rondeau's defence was a valid one because the seizures he suffers cause him to go into a psychotic state. He had twelve more seizures while in custody at the Rivière des Prairies Detention Centre and the Philippe Pinel Institute, and each time was violent for about thirty minutes afterwards.

While it is not much discussed and research in this area is lacking, it is not uncommon for epilepsy to be linked to psychosis. In fact, one report states epileptics have a 6 to 12 times greater chance of experience symptoms of psychosis when compared with the general population.

Some epileptics suffer a form of psychosis triggered at the time of the seizure. This psychosis is most often categorized according to when it occurs, in relation to the seizure. Postictal psychosis, which has an onset shortly after a seizure and can last for a period of hours or even days, is seen in about 6 to 10 percent of epileptic people. Those suffering the psychosis can be confused, suffer from hallucinations, and even become violent.

Cooperation of Lawyers, Judge and Doctors

This is the same sort of psychosis suffered by then 16 year old Blake Dwyer, who was stunned with a Taser twelve times by police after he had a seizure. But if the case of the young football player from Corinth, Texas highlighted the fact that first responders lack the training necessary to deal with epileptics in what can be a terrified and confused state, the Rondeau case highlights what can happen when everyone works together to understand the problem and find an appropriate remedy.

Lawyers, judge, doctors and family worked together to find a solution that allows Rondeau to be released from prison, while protecting the public safety. Besides taking medications to control his seizures, Rondeau will have to observe a strict curfew due to the fact that his seizures are nocturnal. He will live with his parents and be required to sleep alone in his own room. Regular follow-ups are scheduled, with both medical and legal review of his behaviour. Doctors believe, however, that if Rondeau's seizures can be controlled for one year he should remain seizure free as long as he stays on the medication thereafter.

Sources:

"Epileptic who killed nun found not guilty" Paul Cherry (The Gazette)

"Image of Taser use lingers" Donna Fielder (Denton Record Chronicle)

"Man accused of killing nun not criminally responsible" Nelson Wyatt (Canadian Press)

"Nun killer Martin Rondeau released" CTV News

"Postictal Psychosis in Frontal Lobe Complex Partial Seizures" Durga Prasad Bestha, MD and Monica Arora, MD (Psychiatry)

"Psychosis" Andres M Kanner, MD (Epilepsy.com)