MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Christopher Bernard, the Manchester man who attempted suicide after allegedly murdering his sister and her two young children two weeks ago, will pursue an insanity defense, his lawyer said Monday.

“Chris clearly had some major mental illness that went untreated and undiagnosed,” public defender Barbara Keshen said after Bernard’s arraignment on three murder charges. Otherwise, he would not have committed the crimes, she said.

“His sister and his nephew and his niece were loved. He loved them,” she said.

Bernard, 35, entered no plea in Manchester District Court and was returned to the Hillsborough County jail, where he is being held without bail. A hearing on the evidence against him was set for Oct. 29.

Bernard is charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 4 stabbing deaths of Tricia Doyle, 30, of Hooksett; her 4-year-old daughter, Gillian; and her 2-year-old son, James. Their bodies were found at Bernard’s home around 9 o’clock that night. About three hours earlier, Bernard ran onto Interstate 93 and was struck by a dump truck.

He was treated at Elliott Hospital for two days, then was transferred to the state psychiatric hospital in Concord, where he was arrested Sunday, Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin said.

In court Monday, Bernard had a lopsided squint on his face, which Keshen said she believed was the result of injuries from his suicide attempt.

Strelzin declined to comment on a possible motive in the murders or Bernard’s mental health. “We have evidence he committed these three murders,” he said.

Career dreams

Tricia Doyle worked part-time at Elliot Hospital and had dreams of a nursing career. Her mother, Patricia Bernard, is a long-time employee there. Her brother was a former employee.

Chris Bernard and his wife, Kim, lived on the same downtown Manchester street as his parents.

Patricia and Robert Bernard, parents of the defendant and the murdered woman, left the hearing without commenting. Bernard’s wife, who neighbors and family members say is pregnant, did not attend.

The Union Leader filed a motion to unseal arrest and search warrant affidavits. Prosecutors have until Wednesday to respond.