Judge Convicts Son for Mother's Murder

0:00It's April 18th. You're listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news. A Toronto judge just convicted 42-year-old Colin Hatcher of 2nd-degree murder for stabbing his 69-year-old mother, Kathleen, to death. And in a Toby-Cold part back on February 26, 2021, the judge shot down Hatcher's defense that he wasn't criminally responsible because of his mental disorder, even though everyone agreed he had. Untreated schizophrenia. A few months before the killing, Hatcher had talked his family doctor into weaning him off his anti-psychotic meds at his own request. The crown pushed for first-degree murder, calling it planned, but the judge ruled it was more impulsive, maybe triggered by a hallucination or delusion. Hatcher has a long history of mental health struggles since his teens, including threats to kill family members tied to some pact with his late grandfather. He'd shown up at relative spots unannounced and even warned his mom once about tossing her off at Niagara Falls.

1:00Contact with her was spotty leading up to that day. Experts split on his state of mind. Hatcher's side said voices in his head robbed him of rational choice, while the crown's dock pointed to building. Anemosity from delusions. Hatcher claimed he was just returning a quilt with a knife for protection when the urge hid. He goes back to court. June 16th for sentencing, facing life in prison with 10 to 25 years before parole eligibility. This case highlights how thin the line can be between illness and accountability in the system.