A man who shot and killed two strangers in Toronto in April 2022 has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Richard Edwin’s sentence was handed a day after he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Elijah Mahepath and Kartik Vasudev.
“Both gentlemen were going about their business, something they were entitled to do. There is no indication whatsoever that Mr. Edwin was provoked,” Justice Jane Kelly said during Tuesday’s sentencing.
“The impact of Mr. Edwin’s actions cannot be underestimated. Now, he must pay the price.”
Kelly said the murders have had a chilling effect on the community.
“I do not think that it stretches the bounds of anyone’s imagination to think it could have been me. Criminal acts such as this one cause us all to fear for our safety,” Kelly said.
The judge acknowledged the impact of Edwin’s actions on the families of the two men.
“The bullets that struck both gentlemen are being felt by their families. Ambitions came to a deadly stop. Family gatherings are not the same. I am certain that the loss of both will be forever remembered and that the void they created will never be filled,” Kelly said.
In her decision, Kelly said the murders were planned and deliberate.
Vasudev, who was on his way to work, was shot several times on April 7, 2022, at an entrance to Sherbourne Station. The 21-year-old, who was a student at Seneca College, later died in the hospital.
According to the court decision, Edwin travelled to the station in possession of a loaded firearm. Vasudev was walking along the sidewalk past the station, heading towards the staircase when Edwin walked towards him.
“Mr. Edwin rushed past Mr. Vasudev and then turned to face his back. He withdrew his firearm and discharged it several times as Mr. Vasudev was walking away,” the court decision read.
After Vasudev fell to the ground, “Edwin ran south on Glen Road, turned around, stopped, faced Vasudev and shot in his direction several more times,” the decision stated.
Two days later, Edwin left his home with the same loaded firearm. According to the court decision, as he was walking on Dundas Street, near George Street, Edwin withdrew the firearm and discharged it several times in the direction of Mahepath as he walked past him.
“Mr. Mahepath fell to the ground. Mr. Edwin continued to shoot in his direction,” the court decision read.
Mahepath later died in hospital.
‘I’m sorry for all of this’
During Tuesday’s sentencing, Edwin apologized to the families of the victims who were in court.
“I’m sorry for all of this,” he told the court, adding that he was struggling at the time.
“It doesn’t make any sense. It’s a senseless act. I’m sorry for it, and I want forgiveness as well.”
Justice Kelly rejected the defence that Edwin was not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder. He was diagnosed with Schizophrenia in 2010.
Kelly concluded that she was not satisfied Edwin’s mental disorder rendered him incapable of knowing that his actions were morally wrong.
“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Edwin planned to kill a stranger on April 9, 2022, by shooting them. He deliberated on that plan. It was ‘carefully thought out’ and ‘considered’ before it was implemented,” Kelly wrote in her decision.
“It is my view that the evidence of Mr. Edwin’s mental disorder does not raise a reasonable doubt as to whether either of the murders was planned and deliberate.”
Edwin did not testify during his trial.
‘Why would somebody do that?’
Israel Mahepath, the brother of Elijah, spoke directly to Edwin as he gave his victim impact statement.
He told Edwin the murder of his brother hurt him on so many levels.
Israel said if his brother were alive, he would’ve wanted to understand the bigger picture.
He told Edwin he can be forgiven, but he must choose to put his faith in Jesus.
Monica, Mahepath’s adopted mom, told CP24 outside court on Tuesday before the sentencing that she is still grieving his death.
“We lost a very good guy who could have been anything he wanted in this world,” said Monica as she was holding a picture of Mahepath.
She still cannot understand why someone could shoot her son from behind.
“Why would somebody do that?” Monica asked. “I don’t understand it. I’m still trying to digest that. Why? I really don’t know why.”
‘I got justice for my son’
After the sentencing, Vasudev’s parents told reporters that they were relieved by the outcome.
“Today, I am in some relief that I got justice for my son after four years,” Pooja said, adding they have been in pain in the years since Vasudev’s killing.
“People say everything will be normal, but nothing will be normal because we are living with the pain.”
Pooja later admitted in an interview with CP24 that she still finds it difficult to talk about her son, who she described as a “beautiful boy.”
“We (miss) him,” she said. “If someone asked me how many kids you have, it’s very difficult to say, I have two kids. One is in my memory, and one is with me.”
Jitesh, Vasudev’s father, said he did not feel any kind of way when asked about the apology from his son’s killer.
“It’s not like that you have stolen something and asking for apology,” Jitesh said.
“He has taken our lives. Our life is not like what was before. He has taken our son from us, so from apology from that person, I didn’t take it.”
