Colin John has been on the stand all week giving testimony that will determine whether or not he was criminally responsible in the stabbing death of Derek Descoteau in Chemainus in May of 2016.
The hearing in B.C. Supreme Court in Duncan adjourned early Thursday and will resume Friday. ItB次元官网网址檚 expected to continue all next week.
In November of last year, John pleaded guilty at the Victoria courthouse to the second-degree murder of Descoteau and the aggravated assault of DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 girlfriend, Janelle Guyatt, downgraded from the original charge of attempted murder.
DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 family awaited sentencing dates and thought their ordeal would be over in January before the case took another turn. A psychiatric assessment of John was to be completed and included in a pre-sentencing report.
The judge eventually ordered a B次元官网网址榥ot criminally responsible by reason of mental disorderB次元官网网址� assessment in March. The psychiatrist preparing the report eventually asked for a 30-day extension which was granted.
Once the report was received, John had to decide whether he would apply to be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. He eventually did. That led to the hearing currently taking place before Justice Lisa Warren.
The hearing began with John giving testimony and has moved to the stage of expert evidence for the duration.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a major ordeal,B次元官网网址� said DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 mom Brenda Smith of the long process.
The testimony provided so far has been difficult for Smith to hear.
B次元官网网址淭his has been probably the most major hit,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hearing all the gory details out of his mouth.B次元官网网址�
Kristina Tkachuk, DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 aunt, has followed the John case from the beginning and kept extensive notes on all the proceedings.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just hoping that heB次元官网网址檚 found fit and sentenced to the maximum he can be sentenced for,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the only outcome thatB次元官网网址檚 going to provide the family and friends a peace about this.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 already been nearly 6 1/2 years since DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 murder.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 taking a toll on the family,B次元官网网址� conceded Tkachuk. B次元官网网址淒erek would be 27 today and you wonder whether heB次元官网网址檇 be married or not. In that time of thinking of that, itB次元官网网址檚 all so depressing with what heB次元官网网址檇 be doing today.B次元官网网址�
Many family members and friends have been attending the majority of the court sessions over the years, never giving up in the hope of seeing justice.
B次元官网网址淗e affected so many people in such a positive way,B次元官网网址� said Tkachuk. B次元官网网址淗is memorial Facebook page is active and continually going even after 6 1/2 years. You donB次元官网网址檛 see that all the time.B次元官网网址�
Guyatt, now 22, has been through a long ordeal and endured many surgeries after the attack but always kept a brave face under difficult circumstances.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had four in total,B次元官网网址� she said.
Descoteau and Guyatt were at his fatherB次元官网网址檚 house in Chemainus when John burst in and started stabbing them. Descoteau died on the way to hospital and Guyatt suffered serious injuries from stab wounds.
John was arrested at the scene of the attack.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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