Donald Marshall Jr., the Mi'kmaq activist whose court case led to a landmark ruling in favor of treaty rights, has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after appearing in court on an attempted murder charge.

Marshall, 52, looked "gaunt and dispirited," the Canadian Press reported. He has been taking medication after he exhibited erratic behavior during his first court appearance earlier this month.

Marshall is charged with attempted murder, dangerous driving and uttering death threats in connection with a New Year's Eve incident on the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia.

When he was just 17, Marshall was wrongly convicted of a murder and spent 11 years in prison. He was eventually exonerated but not before a government commission said racism was to blame for his illegal incarceration.

Later in life, he was charged for fishing without a license. He took the case to the Canadian Supreme Court, which ruled in 1999 that Mi'kmaq and Maliseet tribal members have a right to earn a living from fishing.

Get the Story:
Charged with attempted murder, Donald Marshall Jr. sent for more tests (CBC 2/2)
Marshall sent for more tests (CBC 2/2)
Donald Marshall Jr. sent for further assessment (CP 2/2)
Marshall sent for further assessment (CP 2/2)

Relevant Links:
The Marshall Case, Department of Fisheries and Oceans - www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/COMMUNIC/Marshall/marshall_e.htm
Fishing Fury, from the CBC: cbc.ca/news/indepth/fishingfury/index.html

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