Accused animal torturer's girlfriend told police he spoke of killing humans, sought protection order

CANADA -- The girlfriend of the Calgary man charged in the torture killings of a cat and dog told police he spoke to her about killing humans, the Sun has learned.

The man also mentioned to her that he hears voices and she’s seen him speak to people that aren’t there, according to testimony given by a Calgary cop in support of an emergency protection order.

“She said that he has not only spoken about harming and hurting animals, and she’s seen him harm animals, but that he has spoken about harming humans,” Const. Aaron Squirrell testified on March 10, according to a court transcript of the hearing.

“She mentioned that he has also ... spoken to her about murder and killing humans,” Squirrell told justice of the peace Lily MacKay.

Squirrell also testified Nicolino Camardi, who currently faces two animal cruelty charges, told police that voices have been telling him to kill his girlfriend.

The officer’s testimony was in support of an application on the girlfriend’s behalf for an emergency protection order barring Camardi from contacting her.

MacKay granted the application, but the order was not extended when it was reviewed by a Court of Queen’s Bench judge on April 30.

Camardi, 19, faces four charges in connection with alleged incidents which occurred March 9, including the unlawful confinement of his girlfriend which triggered the protection order application.

At the time he was under investigation in connection with incidents on Jan. 9 and 16 in which a Siberian husky and domestic short hair cat were found tossed in a Willow Park alley, their muzzles taped shut.

The dog died of starvation and the cat was strangled after suffering blows to the head.

Camardi was charged May 5, in connection with the killings and is currently on a 30-day psychiatric remand to determine his fitness to stand trial.

In his evidence before MacKay, Squirrell testified Camardi “has a history of psychosis,” and of crack cocaine use.

“(The girlfriend) believes that he is still using crack cocaine behind her back,” he testified at the March 10 hearing.

“While (Camardi) was in police custody he made comments to the officer that he’s hearing voices and that the voices are telling him to kill her,” Squirrell said.

“And that he needs to kill her soon, and if he doesn’t kill her, she’ll kill him first.”

Camardi returns to provincial court from his assessment on June 6.

(Calgary Sun - May 14, 2014)

Earlier:

• Dead dog, cat found muzzled in southeast Calgary alley