"Richard Edwin pleaded not guilty to two first-degree murder charges and is seeking to be found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder. Justice Jane Kelly said she will decide in future proceedings whether the accused will ultimately face charges of first- or second-degree murder. That depends on whether she believes Edwin planned the murders, which would mean a first-degree murder charge, or if he intended to kill but did not plan the murders."
"Edwin was arrested in April 2022 and charged with the deaths of 21-year-old Kartik Vasudev and 35-year-old Elijah Eleazar Mahepath. The killings happened two days apart and both victims died from multiple gunshot wounds. Edwin, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2010, was a stranger to both of them, according to the statement of facts read in court on Tuesday."
"Following his arrest, police found five firearms in Edwin's apartment, according to the statement of facts. Among the guns was a nine-millimetre semi-automatic pistol registered to Edwin, which is believed to be the same weapon used to shoot the two victims. Two compilations of security footage from each incident were shown in court on Tuesday. Both videos show Edwin leaving the area where he lived at the time, boarding public transit, shooting each victim from behind and returning home, according to the statement of facts."
A judge-only trial began for Richard Edwin, who pleaded not guilty to two first-degree murder charges and seeks a not criminally responsible finding due to a mental disorder. The judge will later determine whether the killings were planned, affecting first- or second-degree charges. Edwin was arrested in April 2022 after two fatal shootings two days apart; both victims died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police recovered five firearms in Edwin's apartment, including a registered nine-millimetre pistol believed to be the weapon. Security footage shows Edwin leaving home, boarding public transit, shooting each victim from behind, and returning; clothing matching the footage was found near his home. Lawyers must prove he could not understand his actions or know they were wrong to succeed on a not criminally responsible plea.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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