"A Toronto man accused of killing two strangers in April 2022 experienced some degree of cognitive loss after being diagnosed with schizophrenia, a forensic psychologist told the courtroom on Wednesday. Dr. Stephanie Penney testified at Ontario's Superior Court of Justice in Toronto Wednesday morning, as the judge-only trial of Richard Edwin continued. Edwin was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2010 but there was a long stretch of time where his condition was not documented, Penney told the court."
"His self-reported mental health records say he was not taking medication for his schizophrenia, nor was he experiencing symptoms until a few months before the killings, Penney said. Penney said she believes this is likely not true. She called it inconsistent with most presentations of schizophrenia and said it is likely he was experiencing symptoms. The more time or information we have on someone can be helpful, Penney, who assessed the accused in March this year, told the court."
"On Tuesday, the court saw a compilation of security footage that appeared to show Edwin leaving the area near his home, taking public transit to the locations of the killings, shooting each victim and returning home. Both victims were strangers to the accused. In both videos, Edwin can be seen firing more shots after the victims are lying on the ground. He also removed outer layers of clothing on his way home."
The accused experienced some degree of cognitive loss after a 2010 schizophrenia diagnosis. There was a prolonged period during which the condition was not documented and self-reported records indicate no medication use and no symptoms until months before the killings. A forensic assessment concluded those self-reports are likely inaccurate and that symptoms were probably present earlier. The accused faces two first-degree murder charges for the April 2022 killings of Kartik Vasudev, 21, and Elijah Eleazar Mahepath, 35. The defense is pursuing a not criminally responsible on account of mental illness plea and must prove lack of capacity to assess the morality of his actions at the time. Security footage appears to show travel to the scenes, shootings, additional shots after the victims were down, and removal of outer clothing on the way home; both victims were strangers.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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