Severn Township man guilty of 2020 fatal stabbing cites not criminally responsible
Justice Snache was found guilty by a Barrie judge on Monday for the stabbing death of Derek Simmerson in Orillia in 2020, as both the defence and Crown argue that Snache should not be held criminally responsible for his actions.
Simmerson was walking along Coldwater Road on Nov. 19, 2020, when he was stabbed in the heart and liver and left lying in the middle of the road.
The 34-year-old died in the hospital.
Three days later, police arrested Snache at a gas station on Highway 11.
In the Barrie courtroom Monday, a forensic psychiatrist testified he diagnosed Snache with schizophrenia and psychosis, telling the court the 22-year-old Severn Township man had hallucinations and heard voices when he killed Simmerson, fearing he would be killed if he didn't stab him first.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The second-degree murder trial was supposed to get underway last week following an unsuccessful attempt by the defence to have crucial evidence excluded from the proceedings, including a police-recorded confession video of Snache hours after he called police to say he wanted "to confess to a murder."
Snache told police, "I think I stabbed him, pulled out the knife. He ran a little bit, and then I ended up stabbing him again."
In the video, Snache told police he had heard about the stabbing on the news and told the officer he killed someone and "didn't get in trouble for it," adding, "I feel a little better getting it off my chest."
Ultimately Justice Cary Boswell found police made several errors when dealing with Snache but ruled the evidence admissible, including a bloody knife found in the back of a cab traced back to him with Simmerson's blood on it.
Justice Boswell must now decide whether he accepts Snache was not criminally responsible for Simmerson's death due to his mental disorder at the time of the killing.
If found not criminally responsible, Snache's fate will likely be in the hands of the Ontario Review Board.
It's expected Justice Boswell will make his ruling on Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.