Richard Kachkar is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Toronto Police Sgt. Ryan Russell. Kachkar being sent to medium-security mental hospital Kachkar not criminally responsible for killing Toronto cop with stolen snowplow Kachkar's defence says not criminally responsible Kachkar showed no signs of psychosis in jail, docs testify No logic to Kachkar's psychotic behaviour: Doc

TORONTO – Richard Kachkar suffered from a mental disorder and was in a psychotic state when he killed Toronto Police Sgt. Ryan Russell in a destructive rampage with a snowplow, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Bob Richardson opened his case to the Superior Court jury that will decide whether Kachkar, 46, is guilty of first-degree murder, manslaughter or not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder.

Richardson said three respected forensic psychiatrists have independently examined his client and all concluded he was suffering from a mental disorder and in a psychotic episode on Jan. 12, 2011, -- the day Russell was killed.