Judge to make decision on 2021 New Bothwell murder - Update

***Updated Tuesday at 11:20 am***

A Winnipeg judge has found a man not criminally responsible for killing his parents and attacking a hospital nursing supervisor. 

Court heard Trevor Farley had been in psychosis at the time of the attacks in October 2021. 

Court of King's Bench Justice Kenneth Champagne says the violent and horrific acts took place in less than three hours. 

Farley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in his mother's death, second-degree murder in his father's death and attempted murder in the stabbing of Candace Szkwarek.

A mental health assessment was ordered shortly after police arrested Farley. 

Crown prosecutors accepted doctors' findings that Farley did not understand what he was doing at the time of the attacks.

Four family members of the victims are expected to provide victim impact statements in court.

 

***Updated Tuesday at 9:00 am***

A judge is expected to decide whether a Winnipeg man should be deemed not criminally responsible for his role in the killings of his parents and stabbing a colleague. One of the killings happened in New Bothwell.
 
Manitoba Court of King's Bench Justice Kenneth Champagne heard on Monday that Trevor Farley was experiencing psychosis and auditory delusions the day he stabbed his 73-year-old parents to death and stabbed a nursing supervisor more than a dozen times nearly two years ago.

According to Manitoba RCMP and Winnipeg Police Services, Stuart Farley was killed along Toronto Street in Winnipeg on October 27th and the same day Judy Swain was killed in New Bothwell and there was an assault at Seven Oaks Hospital in Winnipeg. Police said at the time that all three incidents were believed to have taken place in a very tight window on October 27th.

Farley's lawyer says Farley acknowledges he committed the attacks, but he should be found not criminally responsible due to mental illness.

Farley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Judy Swain, second-degree murder in the death of Stuart Farley and attempted murder in the stabbing of Candyce Szkwarek.

A mental health assessment was ordered shortly after police arrested Farley, and lawyers for the Crown accepted doctors' conclusion that Farley did not understand what he was doing at the time of the attacks.

 Four family members are also expected to provide victim impact statements.

Judy Swain with best friend Carolyn Summerville

Meanwhile, Swain who lived in New Bothwell is being remembered for her very bubbly spirit. Her friend of 10 years, Carolyn Summerville shared memories shortly after Swain's death, describing her as kind, generous and always caring about other people. 

"She was wonderful at gardening, and she would share with me," recalls Swain. "I could pick what I wanted."

Summerville adds nobody had a bad thing to say about Swain, noting she made sacrifices and did everything she could to help other people with whatever they needed. 

"Judy was just a giving, giving, loving, loving person," she adds. "She just cared about everybody."

Two days after the killings, New Bothwell Councillor Travis Doerksen stated the community was in a state of shock, noting this never happens in the area. 

 

With files from The Canadian Press

 

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