An assessment to determine criminal responsibility was ordered on Aug. 26 in provincial court for a Charlottetown woman – Cassie Marie Acorn, 40 – charged with first-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter. Photo by The Guardian /FileArticle contentA Charlottetown woman charged with first-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter has been ordered to undergo an assessment to determine her mental condition and criminal responsibility at the time of the alleged offence.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAssessment requestArticle contentArticle contentThe request for the assessment by a mental-health professional under the Criminal Code of Canada was made on Aug. 26 in provincial court in Charlottetown by legal-aid lawyer Thane MacEachern on behalf of the accused – Cassie Marie Acorn, 40. MacEachern explained that the assessment should be in-depth, given the first-degree murder charge and that his client has cognitive impairments.Article contentArticle contentMacEachern further said that the assessment request also includes another part of the Criminal Code of Canada that specifies a female charged with an offence arising from the death of her newly-born child and whether the balance of her mind was “disturbed at the time of commission of the alleged offence.” Representing the Crown attorney’s office in court was John Diamond.Article contentThe factsArticle contentAccording to information previously released by Charlottetown police, Acorn’s daughter, Winter Elizabeth Rose Acorn, died on March 20, 2025, at the IWK hospital in Halifax as a result of head injuries sustained in Charlottetown a few days earlier (on March 16). Winter Acorn was three months old at the time of her death.Article contentChief Judge Jeff Lantz granted the defence request and ordered the assessment. Lantz then adjourned Acorn’s matter to Sept. 25. Acorn is currently released from custody on conditions while her matter is before the court.Article contentArticle contentTerrence McEachern is a justice reporter for The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at tmceachern@postmedia.com.Article content
Assessment ordered for P.E.I. woman accused of killing her infant daughter
