Bruce McArthur showed ‘minimal’ potential for violence, 2003 report concluded

But in 2003, he was before the courts for the first time after pleading guilty to assaulting a man in his home with a metal pipe on Halloween 2001. He was given a conditional sentence and avoided jail time.

Psychological and presentencing reports from the 2003 sentencing provide more insight into McArthur’s life. Both note McArthur was embarrassed by his arrest and had not told anyone aside from his roommate.

“The subject hopes to find romance and eventually settle down,” says the presentencing report. “In addition, he hopes to learn to be happy with himself and his life decisions.”

The reports also note he had difficulties with family as a child, particularly with his father, who he thought may have sensed McArthur was gay.

In her psychological report, Dr. Marie-France Dionne found little risk of McArthur committing another violent act. She noted there were no previous incidents of violence in his life, the assault happened when he was 50, and McArthur said he didn’t remember the incident, wondering if he had an epileptic seizure at the time.

“We are confident to conclude that the risk for violence is very minimal,” Dionne wrote.

The report also said McArthur had never suffered from any major mental illness and had no dependency on drugs and alcohol.

He showed “absolutely no signs of psychopathy,” Dionne wrote. “He shows no features of personality disorder and he declares no early maladjustment.”