The accused was charged with second-degree murder after bludgeoning his father to death with a hammer.
The accused had a long history of severe, poorly controlled schizophrenia and substance abuse.
At trial, the sole issue was whether the accused was not criminally responsible (NCR) under s. 16(1) of the Criminal Code.
Relying on unchallenged expert psychiatric evidence, the court found that while the accused understood the physical consequences of his actions, his severe delusions and command hallucinations rendered him incapable of knowing that the killing was morally wrong.
The court found the accused not criminally responsible and remanded him to a secure psychiatric facility for a Review Board disposition hearing.
