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. It鈥檚 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 Descoteau鈥檚 girlfriend, Janelle Guyatt, downgraded from the original charge of attempted murder.
Descoteau鈥檚 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 鈥榥ot criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder鈥� 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a major ordeal,鈥� said Descoteau鈥檚 mom Brenda Smith of the long process.
The testimony provided so far has been difficult for Smith to hear.
鈥淭his has been probably the most major hit,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hearing all the gory details out of his mouth.鈥�
Kristina Tkachuk, Descoteau鈥檚 aunt, has followed the John case from the beginning and kept extensive notes on all the proceedings.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just hoping that he鈥檚 found fit and sentenced to the maximum he can be sentenced for,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the only outcome that鈥檚 going to provide the family and friends a peace about this.鈥�
It鈥檚 already been nearly 6 1/2 years since Descoteau鈥檚 murder.
鈥淚t鈥檚 taking a toll on the family,鈥� conceded Tkachuk. 鈥淒erek would be 27 today and you wonder whether he鈥檇 be married or not. In that time of thinking of that, it鈥檚 all so depressing with what he鈥檇 be doing today.鈥�
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.
鈥淗e affected so many people in such a positive way,鈥� said Tkachuk. 鈥淗is memorial Facebook page is active and continually going even after 6 1/2 years. You don鈥檛 see that all the time.鈥�
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.
鈥淚鈥檝e had four in total,鈥� she said.
Descoteau and Guyatt were at his father鈥檚 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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