UMVA has learned that Colin Hatcher, a 38-year-old man suffering from schizophrenia, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 11 years for the brutal murder of his own mother, Kathleen.
Kathleen, a devoted grandmother and quilter who had recently retired from the Toronto District School Board, was described by Superior Court Justice Sean Nakatsuru as an "exceptional woman" who had always been there for her son, providing care, support, and love throughout his life.
Nakatsuru's scathing rebuke of Hatcher's actions highlighted the depth of his betrayal, stating, "She trusted you even when there was good reason not to. You betrayed that trust," and emphasizing that Hatcher's actions were a gross violation of the trust his mother had placed in him.
In April, Nakatsuru had rejected Hatcher's claim of not being criminally responsible due to his mental disorder and convicted him of second-degree murder, acknowledging that while Hatcher was suffering from schizophrenia, he was aware that his actions were morally wrong.
However, the judge considered Hatcher's severe mental illness as a mitigating factor in sentencing, noting that it played a significant role in the crime, and was encouraged by Hatcher's willingness to take anti-psychotic medication and his expressed insight into his actions.
On February 26, 2021, Kathleen had agreed to meet her son in King's Mill Park, despite concerns for her safety, as she had spent years trying to get help for her delusional son who had often threatened to kill her and other family members.
Hatcher told a forensic psychiatrist that during their walk, a voice suddenly commanded him to "Stab her, stab her, stab her," and in a frenzied attack, he inflicted seven separate wounds to his mother's head, face, and neck, as well as defensive wounds to her hands.
The Crown had sought 15 years of parole ineligibility, while the defence argued for 10, but Nakatsuru set the period at 11 years, urging Hatcher to take responsibility for his actions and work towards becoming "someone other than the killer that you are."
Nakatsuru cautioned that the path to redemption would be long and arduous, requiring daily effort over many months and years, but emphasized that it was essential for Hatcher to take this journey and make amends for his heinous crime.
