General

Man in Calgary freeman case to have psychiatric tests for alleged Quebec crimes

MONTREAL – The man evicted from a Calgary duplex after trying to declare it a sovereign embassy will be evaluated to determine whether he can be held responsible for alleged crimes in Quebec.

Mario Antonacci appeared today in a Montreal courtroom where his lawyer was granted a request to have him evaluated for criminal responsibility.

Leandre Dube-Laberge told the court that new information suggests Antonacci may not have been mentally well at the time of one of the alleged crimes six years ago.

Antonacci was declared fit earlier this month to stand trial and assist in his own defence.

He was known to Calgary authorities as Andreas Pirelli and his whereabouts became known to police in Quebec after a high-profile dispute with a landlady in that city a few months ago.

It was discovered that Pirelli was actually Antonacci and had skipped out on two court cases against him in Quebec, including the alleged assault of his landlady in Montreal in 2007.

He was arrested by Calgary police on those outstanding bench warrants from Quebec.

Antonacci claimed to belong to a group known as the Freemen on the Land.

Members of that group have declared themselves independent of government jurisdiction.

Antonacci’s case will return to court in mid-December.

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