By Canadian Press

Judge to rule on criminal responsibility of man who stabbed two B.C. students

Apr 22, 2021 | 2:03 AM

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — A British Columbia Supreme Court judge is expected to deliver her decision today over whether a man who stabbed two high school students is not criminally responsible because he had a mental disorder. 

Gabriel Klein was convicted last year for the murder of 13-year-old Letisha Reimer and the aggravated assault of her friend in the rotunda of Abbotsford Senior Secondary in 2016.

Klein, who has schizophrenia, applied for a hearing over criminal responsibility as sentencing was set to begin in September and he later testified that he believed he was stabbing a witch and a monster. 

His lawyer has argued that he should not be held criminally responsible because he did not have the capacity to appreciate the consequences of his actions or understand that they were wrong. 

If the judge dismisses that argument, the case will proceed to sentencing.

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If she finds Klein not criminally responsible, his lawyer will ask that his case be sent to the B.C. Review Board to determine the next steps for his confinement. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2021.

The Canadian Press