A 55-year-old Melville man appeared in Yorkton Provincial Court Tuesday to determine whether he's mentally capable of answering to charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
A shackled Gary Ross, clad in grey sweatpants and t-shirt, made a brief appearance in Melville Provincial Court Monday and was remanded in custody by Judge Ernie Bobowski.
Ross, a heavyset man who appeared somewhat disheveled and sported a beard flecked with grey, didn't speak at Monday's session. In fact, the charges weren't read out in court with the session dealing only with a pending psychiatric assessment.
The charges arose from an incident early Saturday morning at 304 Toronto St. in which a 60-year-old man was stabbed to death while an 86-year-old woman sustained stab wounds.
Police responded to a call at 4:20 a.m. to the modest, unkempt home on the city's east side. There they found the deceased and the injured woman who was treated for her wounds and then transported to St. Peter's Hospital. She remains in stable condition.
Legal Aid lawyer Dave Bright requested the one-day adjournment in order to contact the North Battleford psychiatric centre to determine whether there was space available for Ross who would undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment.
That assessment would determine whether Ross is able to understand the charges.
Given the incident only happened on the weekend, Bright, in asking for the adjournment, said there hadn't been time to contact Sask-atchewan Hospital North Battleford about the availability of a bed.
Saskatchewan Hospital offers psychiatric assessment and treatment to people charged with or convicted of a crime who are suspected of having a mental disorder.
Shortly after it became evident a murder had occurred at the home sitting on a dusty, unpaved road neighboring Davison Elementary School, attending officers called in backup.
In a press release issued Saturday, Melville RCMP S.Sgt. Ewen Booth says local officers were assisted by the Yorkton Forensic Identification Section, General Investigation Section, Regina RCMP Police Dog Service and the Major Crimes Unit South.
Major Crimes and Ident members were still on the scene sifting through evidence Sunday. And Booth says local officers were keeping the home sealed until the post mortem examination on the victim was complete, sometime Monday afternoon.
"The members were investigating a break-in at Kal Tire when the call came in," said during an interview Monday. "Needless to say, they left that scene quickly."
When they arrived at the scene, Booth says the officers noticed the accused was sitting in a car belonging to his brother Gordon. Gordon Ross, who lives at another location, called the police from his
car.
Although Booth would not release the victim's name, it's widely known in the community Gary Ross lived with his older brother Richard in the home. Their 86-year-old mother lives elsewhere in the city but visited on the weekends.
No other details were available because the investigation is still underway and the matter is before the courts. Gary and Richard Ross are well-known by most residents in Melville. The brothers were often seen riding their bicycles throughout the city. In recent years, the pair bought electric bikes.
