By Canadian Press

Lionel Desmond not thought to pose imminent threat health official tells inquiry

Feb 13, 2020 | 8:23 AM

GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. — A psychotherapist who talked to Lionel Desmond a few hours before he killed his family and himself says she didn’t think the former soldier posed an imminent threat to himself or others after he confirmed his wife had asked for a divorce.

Catherine Chambers, who was aware Desmond had been diagnosed with PTSD, told an inquiry today she was concerned the former sniper had experienced a “single trauma” the night of Dec. 31, 2016 when he and his wife Shanna were involved in a minor road accident in rural Nova Scotia.

As well, she says the pending divorce added to that trauma and could have exacerbated Desmond’s PTSD symptoms.

Chambers, who specializes in treating people with PTSD, says that during their 26-minute telephone conversation on Jan. 3, 2017, she reached an agreement with Desmond to implement a safety plan should his symptoms get worse.

She says Desmond told her he was not having thoughts of hurting himself or anyone else, but he agreed that if those thoughts should arise or if his symptoms flared up he would seek help at the hospital in nearby Antigonish, N.S.

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Later that day, just after 6 p.m., Desmond used a semi-automatic, military-style carbine to kill his mother, wife and the couple’s 10-year-old daughter in the family’s home in Upper Big Tracadie, N.S.

Chambers became emotional during her testimony and asked to take a break to regain her composure.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2020.

The Canadian Press