Nanaimo man not criminally chargeable for brutal homicide of girl

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A Nanaimo man has been discovered not criminally chargeable for stabbing a lady to dying outdoors his grandparents’ dwelling as a result of he was psychotic on the time.

Based on a Supreme Court docket of B.C. ruling, on June 20, 2022, Simon James Baker was standing outdoors the house on eighth Road in south Nanaimo at round 10 p.m. having a cigarette when he was approached by 41-year-old Denise Allick.

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The pair had by no means met and for no cause Baker pulled out a knife that he was carrying and stabbed Allick six instances within the face, neck and shoulder — with one wound severing her carotid artery, which rapidly led to her dying.

Baker was 21 on the time of the killing and had been identified with paranoid schizophrenia at age 17 when he had delusions that individuals have been attempting to interrupt into his dwelling.

In December 2021, Baker believed he was being watched by folks with “reptilian eyes” and he was at one level detained by police below the Psychological Well being Act.

In April 2022, Baker’s grandmother reported to police that he was having a psychotic break and was carrying a machete. He was additionally turning into paranoid about folks trespassing on his grandparents’ property — the place he lived — and was talking about being possessed by a satan.

In late Could of 2022, he was seen on the Nanaimo Basic Hospital emergency ward, the place Baker requested that his treatment dosage be elevated. Baker additionally had cocaine-use dysfunction.

Baker was arrested shortly after the June 20 killing and pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide, admitting that the lethal assault was intentional.

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Nevertheless, it was as much as Justice Douglas Thompson to find out whether or not Baker was not criminally accountable by cause of psychological dysfunction.

“In her assertion given on 22 June 2022, two days after the murder, Mr. Baker’s mom informed the police that “for the final six months or so, nicely the final 12 months and a half or so actually, he’s fairly paranoid, delusional and really involved about trespassing on his property,” Thompson wrote.

“She additionally reported that her son was talking about how he had been possessed by a demon at his grandparents’ home, and that she had identified for months that he’s undoubtedly delusional and paranoid.”

In conclusion, Thompson stated “Ms. Allick was evidently on the property the place Mr. Baker lived when she was stabbed. It’s unclear why she was there. Tragically, her presence appears to have triggered Mr. Baker’s psychotic symptomology.

“It is a troublesome case, however I’m glad on a stability of possibilities that within the moments when Mr. Baker stabbed Ms. Allick, he was incapable of rationally contemplating whether or not his conduct within the explicit circumstances would have been morally condemned by affordable members of society. Accordingly, I rule that he’s not criminally chargeable for this murder by cause of psychological dysfunction.”

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Baker will now be held on the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam the place his future shall be decided by the B.C. Evaluation Board.

Thompson famous the presence of Allick’s family and friends on the ruling and stated “I can solely think about how troublesome this persevering with course of should be. I need to inform you that I’m very sorry on your loss.”

On a GoFundMe web page established to pay for Allick’s funeral bills, she was described by her brother as “a mom, sister, daughter and aunty who cherished her household.”

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