Security video from the Assiniboia Hotel shows Noah Bentley (centre, with beard and glasses) the night Brenda Woloski was killed. Bentley and Woloski met at the bar on Nov. 12, 2016.

By Alex McCuaig

Woloski homicide

Psychological expert testifies for the defence at second-degree murder trial

Oct 21, 2019 | 2:14 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – The second-degree murder trial of Noah Bentley continued on Monday with evidence from an expert in forensic psychology.

The court found Bentley did cause the homicide of Brenda Woloski on Nov. 12, 2016 after the two met at the Assiniboia Hotel earlier in the evening. However, the defence is arguing the man was not criminally responsible for the death.

The expert, Leslie Block, told the court Bentley suffered from a wide-range of psychological issues leading up to the day of the murder.

Bentley was suffering under the weight of numerous psychological issues, “to the point he snapped,” Block told the court. The combination of suffering PTSD from sexual abuse, a dysfunctional home and lack of parental guidance combined with the murder coming on the day Bentley broke a period of sobriety lead to the break from knowing what he was doing,” the court heard.

Block outlined Bentley had no criminal record, no history of violence and no anti-social or psychopathic traits identified that would lead one to believe he could commit a murder, “in a vicious, vicious manner.”

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Psychological expert explained Bentley’s mental detachment from the act of strangling and stabbing as similar to what is seen with individuals in law enforcement or military when they switch to “training mode” when entering a dangerous situation.

But, Block added, psychological fallout from those situations are more likely to result in suicide rather than homicide.

The court heard that since being in custody, Bentley has been reacting positively to treatment.

The trial continues today.