Desmond tragedy

Various investigations are underway into the tragedy in Upper Big Tracadie. Lionel Desmond killed himself after killing his daughter, wife and mother.

Premier Stephen McNeil calls it an unspeakable loss. While Lionel Desmond received some treatment for P-T-S-D from the federal goverment, the premier says it’s unclear what kind of care, if any, was provided by the province.

A relative says Desmond recently tried to check himself into the mental health unit at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish, but was told there were no beds and they didn’t have his files.

Lac Megantic trial

The engineer who was driving the train that exploded in Lac Megantic in 2013 wants to prove his innocense.

The lawyer for Tom Harding is dropping his motion to have a stay of proceedings in the case. He says Harding wants a trial to give his verson of events and show he did not commit criminal negligence.

He and two other men have been charged with 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death for the victims of the fiery accident that killed 47 people.