A forensic psychologist says Daniel Sylvester is an emotionally troubled man who attacked Alicia Ross because of his own sensitivity and feelings of inadequacy.

Testifying on behalf of Sylvester, Dr. Mark Ben-Aron said the accused told him he didn't intend for his attack to be fatal, rather he wanted to "make a statement" that he had enough and didn't want to be picked on any longer, CTV's John Musselman reported.

The defence maintains Sylvester assaulted Ross between their Markham homes on the night of Aug. 17, 2005 after she called him a "loser."

Ben-Aron testified Tuesday that Sylvester is very sensitive about his low self-esteem, and the alleged insult caused him to "lose it."

When the Crown asked how Ben-Aron knows Sylvester didn't intend to commit murder, the psychiatrist said Sylvester expressed genuine remorse after the killing.

Ben-Aron also described Sylvester's behaviour as "creepy and weird," saying the accused engaged in peeping Tom behaviour in the past.

Court heard Sylvester has been seeing psychiatrists and psychologists since he was eight or nine years old to deal with problems that include depression and anxiety.

Jurors in the second-degree murder trial have seen videotaped statements between Sylvester and police that show the accused saying his killed Ross by kneeing her to the body and smashing her head off the ground.

Sylvester turned himself in five weeks after Ross disappeared, and hours later, helped police located Ross' remains in wooded areas near Coboconk and Manilla.

Sylvester tried to plead guilty to manslaughter before the trial started, but the prosecution rejected the attempt.

The trial continues in a Newmarket courtroom.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin on Thursday.

With a report from CTV's John Musselman