On Tuesday, Superior Court Justice Rita-Jean Maxwell found the 29-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder. In coming to her decision following a protracted judge-alone trial — delayed years to allow for mental health assessments and expert testimony — Maxwell rejected MacDonald’s argument that he was not criminally responsible due to a brief psychotic episode at the time he killed 38-year-old Sarah Vermelhudo with a folding pocket knife.
Jacques Gallant is a Toronto-based reporter covering courts,justice and legal affairs for the Star. Reach him by emailat jgallant@thestar.ca orfollow him on Twitter: @JacquesGallant
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