Warning: This story accommodates graphic particulars. Discretion is suggested.
A Toronto decide advised a person who attacked his mom with a knife, leaving her to die within the woods at King’s Mill Park 5 years in the past, that the way by which he killed her made his crime worse.
“Although it has been years since this terrible occasion … some wounds won’t ever go away. I’m afraid that the one Mr. Hatcher brought about is such a wound. The grief and concern have continued to today,” Superior Courtroom Justice Sean Nakatsuru stated in delivering his sentence to Colin Hatcher.
The decide discovered Colin responsible in April of second-degree homicide within the loss of life of his mom, Kathleen Hatcher.
Kathleen was present in a wooded space in King’s Mill Park on Feb. 26, 2021, simply earlier than 11 a.m. by a pedestrian who heard a girl screaming for assist. She was mendacity face down within the snow after being repeatedly stabbed. The 69-year-old was pronounced useless on the scene.
Nakatsuru sentenced Hatcher to life in jail with a parole ineligibility interval of 11 years, saying his actions had been straight linked to the actual fact she was his mom.
“Your mom who gave delivery to you, nursed you, cared for you while you had been a baby, inspired and supported you even throughout the tough patches of your teenagers, took delight and pleasure in your accomplishments, and by no means turned her again on you while you turned sick and a hazard to her and the household — she trusted you. Even when there was cause to not. You betrayed her belief,” Nakaksuru stated.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get day by day Canada information delivered to your inbox so you will by no means miss the day’s prime tales.
The decide advised court docket that the homicide of a beloved mom is an aggravating issue, however acknowledged that essentially the most mitigating issue is the truth that Colin was affected by schizophrenia on the time.
Assistant Crown attorneys Paul Zambonini and Maruna Birsan argued that the homicide was deliberate and deliberate and ought to be thought-about in sentencing, saying an applicable interval of parole ineligibility can be 15 years or extra.
The decide stated he didn’t agree with these submissions, saying that whereas Colin didn’t meet the check for being not criminally accountable (NCR) as a consequence of a psychological dysfunction, his critical psychological sickness performed a really massive function on this crime.
In consequence, Nakatsuru discovered that the son’s ethical culpability is diminished.
The court docket heard that Colin had been involuntarily hospitalized in 2018, roughly three years earlier than the homicide, after threatening to kill each his dad and mom. After being medicated and spending two weeks in hospital, he was launched again into the neighborhood regardless of issues from his mom that he wouldn’t comply.
At trial, the court docket heard that Kathleen turned rising anxious that her son wasn’t taking his anti-psychotic medicine, believed he was paranoid and delusional and feared being alone with him. A household doctor who handled Colin additionally testified he agreed to wean him off his drugs a yr earlier than the homicide.
On the sentencing listening to on Tuesday, Laura Hatcher, Colin’s sister, stated in her sufferer influence assertion that she is worried about what might occur to her brother if his therapy and monitoring fail whereas in jail.
“Colin has deep-seated paranoia about his household, and throughout the trial I realized that regardless of therapy whereas in detention, he nonetheless believes that the pact to kill his household is actual,” stated Laura.
Laura defined that she worries about how Colin would possibly view her participation as a witness on the trial, and if he would possibly act on it sooner or later.
“I’m involved about Colin’s compliance with therapy as soon as he’s on parole and what this might imply for my security and that of my household,” she added.
“Loads of what I’m saying could sound like I’m closing the door on Colin, however I’m not,” Laura continued, saying she hopes he’s in a position to work on himself.
Colin, who didn’t testify at trial, was invited to present an elocution to the court docket Tuesday. He stated he was very sorry and now accepts he has dangerous schizophrenia for which he’s being handled.
Nakatsuru advised the court docket that rehabilitation and therapy are vital ideas at play.
“You now have taken medicine. Are ready to take injectables. And have claimed to have perception into your sickness, one thing that’s supported by others like your father. I’m inspired by what you say is your new perception and your taking of therapy,” the decide stated.
The decide additionally acknowledged the household’s concern that continues to today.
“Even whereas below therapy, you continue to have delusions about your loved ones. Not solely is that related to me, however I’m additionally assured this might be fastidiously thought-about by the Parole Board sooner or later,” Nakatsuru stated.
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.