The 21-year-old Airdrie man, Alexander James Thorpe, who was charged with the second-degree murder of Melanie Lowen, who was later identified as Thorpe's mother commenced at the court of King's Bench on Thursday morning. While both the prosecution and defence counsel are still sifting through evidence and working towards putting together an agreed statement of facts, Thorpe's defence lawyer, Balfour Der, posited that his client should not be held criminally responsible for the killing.
On January 13, RCMP responded to a 9-1-1 call of a male in medical distress at a business in northeast Airdrie. Subsequently, after that call, a well-being check was done at a residence in Airdrie where the body of 48-year-old Lowen was found. The court saw the corresponding video footage of Thorpe, walking into a car dealership in the early morning hours on January 13.
Video footage without audio depicted Thorpe walking naked through the business while holding what appeared a phone to his ear. Dealership staff who witnessed Thorpe in the business said that although he had what appeared to be dried blood on his body, his demeanour was that of being calm and polite. Staff also said that the sounds of a religious sermon were being played on the phone. Staff from the dealership said that when Thorpe spoke to them he said that God had sent him and that they were all loved.
RCMP Constable Aaron Forsythe told the court that Thorpe believed the devil has possessed his mother and that he had to 'kill satan'. Later he would plead with officers to shoot him, while he also experienced wild swings of mood from that of being calm to visibly emotional.
Lowen's body was found to have wounds to both her face and throat and while defence counsel Der said that there is no doubt that Thorpe was responsible for the wounds that were inflicted upon Lowen, he also said that there is evidence that will be brought forth on Friday by a psychiatrist who will demonstrate Thorpe may have been suffering from a mental disorder.
Der told the court that friends and family who heard of what Thorpe had done were taken aback and stunned by the news and that such an act was completely out of character for Thorpe, who by all accounts was a model student and athlete. Thorpe who previously attended George McDougall High SchoolGeorge McDougall High School and graduated in 2019, was one of three Airdrie students who scored 100 per cent on their diploma exams. He was also the captain of the high school's soccer team during his time at school.
Footage from the inside of a police cruiser after Thorpe was apprehended appears to show Thorpe muttering to himself, and at one point stating he is a prophet, while also repeating how much he loved his mother.
During an exchange in the police cruiser with an officer, Thorpe told the police he killed his mother with a knife and doorframe after police asked him how he killed Lowen. After he was told he was being charged with murder, Thorpe offered to give a statement of what transpired.
The two-day judge-alone trial is expected to last until Friday, October 21.
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