‘Cannabis-induced psychosis’ suspected in case of man who killed mother

Jonny Wakefield

Kathy Dickout was found by police dead in her home on April 17, 2017, at the age of 53 in Edmonton. Supplied

Doctors assessing a man who admitted to killing his mother on Easter Monday over two years ago believe he likely suffered from cannabis-induced psychosis.

Kathy Dickout, 53, died after being stabbed half-a-dozen times by her adult son Jason Glenn Dickout in her northeast Edmonton home April 17, 2017.

Dickout was initially charged with second-degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon but entered a guilty plea to manslaughter in November.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Dickout and his sister had consumed cannabis over the course of a family Easter gathering, including cannabis oil. He was 30 at the time of his arrest.

At around 12:26 a.m. on April 17, 2017, Dickout’s sister called police to report “she had just witnessed her brother stabbing their mother repeatedly and that he appeared to be having some kind of psychotic break as he was screaming at the top of his lungs ‘like a crazy person.’”

A subsequent mental health assessment found that marijuana consumption likely played a role in what happened.

The agreed statement of facts states: “Dr. Alberto Choy and Dr. Andrew Haag each opined that, on a balance of probabilities, at the time of the stabbing, the accused was experiencing an acute cannabis-induced psychosis which was both self-induced and transient, with the symptoms abating with a couple of days.”

Dickout, who had recently moved in with a girlfriend, was visiting family for the Easter weekend.

His father left for work around 6:20 p.m. A few hours later, Dickout and his sister smoked “two inhalations of dried marijuana,” the facts state.

Kathy Dickout, who had gone to the store to buy groceries, arrived home at around 10:30 p.m. Jason helped her bring the bags inside. A short time later, he began to act strangely — his sister would later say he was screaming like someone experiencing “night terrors,” making animal noises and talking nonsensically. To calm him down, his sister offered him some of her prescribed cannabis oil preparation. Dickout consumed about 1 ml of the oil.

Dickout attacked his mother in the kitchen sometime after midnight. His sister fled outside, leaving just Kathy in Jason inside the home.

Police arrived and entered through the front door, where they found Jason Dickout naked from the waist down with blood droplets on his face and t-shirt, his bare feet smeared with blood. He was screaming unintelligibly and laughing.

First responders eventually entered the home and found Kathy face up and motionless on the kitchen floor, covered in blood. A pair of men’s pyjama bottoms were on the floor next to her. Jason continued to scream at the top of his lungs, including “This was all for a laugh,” “Call 911,” and “this is no joke.” Dickout needed to be sedated before EMS crews could transport him to hospital.

A six-inch kitchen knife covered in Kathy’s blood was found at the scene. An autopsy later determined she had suffered 12 wounds, including a stab wound to the right side of her neck which severed the jugular vein and carotid artery.

While on the way to police headquarters, Dickout continued to behave strangely, stating “This was all for a laugh,” and “I killed my mom. She was so beautiful. She was always thinking of me. I’m her son. She loves her son. Why?”

During a subsequent interview with police, he admitted he had never used cannabis oil before that night. Eventually, he started yelling at the detective, mistaking him for his mother.

Dickout was later assessed at Alberta Hospital for possible exemption from criminal responsibility due to a mental disorder. However, his cannabis intoxication was found to have been self-induced.

Monday’s sentencing hearing was adjourned because a forensic assessment known as a FACs report has yet to take place. Justice Vital Ouellette ordered the report last November. Crown prosecutor Maxine Bond said she has heard the office that completes FACs assessments is down to just three doctors and that they are behind on requests.

Dickout appeared in custody wearing orange and black correctional service coveralls. He has black hair and is partially bald.

He is expected to be sentenced in early 2020, with an exact date set later this year.