Latest news with #Adenyi
Global News
19-06-2025
- Global News
Man found guilty of killing Calgary woman sentenced to life in prison
The man found guilty of killing a woman in a random downtown stabbing has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Micheal Adenyi was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 death of Vanessa Ladouceur, a verdict that comes with the automatic sentence. At the sentencing hearing Thursday, Justice Jan Sidnell called Ladouceur's killing a heinous crime against a stranger who was simply walking to work. Sidnell told Adenyi it was clear he had not only taken Ladouceur's life, but had ruined those of her friends and family, calling his actions an exceedingly violent crime. Vanessa's mother, Erika, read the only victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing, describing her daughter as beautiful with infectious laughter and a smile that would light up a room. She said her friends remember Vanessa's sense of humour, laughter and ability to make people feel comfortable in any setting. Story continues below advertisement Erika detailed the trauma of identifying her daughter's body the day she was killed. Part of her statement read, 'I remember standing there not understanding why her beautiful blond hair was red. My brain could just not accept what I was seeing.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Erika says she has suffered complex PTSD since Vanessa's death and has lost her job as well as friends because of it. In her statement, she said. 'Losing her is so profound it's impossible to put into words… her sister has already moved away, and I will be doing the same shortly. The memories are too painful.' Vanessa was walking to work when she was killed on March 18, 2022. Surveillance footage shows Adenyi following her for more than two blocks before body-checking her into an alcove and stabbing her repeatedly, including six times to the face. Vanessa ultimately died from blood loss. Adenyi's lawyers had argued he wasn't criminally responsible for the crime, saying he was suffering hallucinations at the time and couldn't understand his actions were morally wrong. However, at the end of a five-week trial, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, which brings an automatic sentence of life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. At the sentencing hearing Erika spoke directly to Adenyi, telling him, 'I believe the sentence you receive for this senseless and cowardly killing is just and I hope you will never receive parole but serve the full sentence under the law. Story continues below advertisement 'I hope you remember her beautiful face every time you see the scar on your hands or look in the mirror and I hope you never get a chance to hurt someone else again.'
Global News
04-05-2025
- Global News
Calgary man who fatally stabbed fitness instructor found guilty
A Calgary man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 stabbing death of 30-year-old fitness instructor Vanessa Ladouceur. Ladouceur was walking to work in downtown Calgary around 8 a.m. on March 18, 2022, when she was attacked and fatally stabbed. On Saturday, following a five-week trial, a jury delivered its verdict, finding 29-year-old Michael Adenyi guilty of first-degree murder. Court of King's Bench Justice Jane Sidnell thanked the jury for their dedication during the lengthy trial. 0:37 Calgary police identify woman killed in 'random' downtown stabbing The court heard that Adenyi followed Ladouceur for nearly two blocks before bodychecking her into an alcove and stabbing her repeatedly. The attack included six wounds to her face, and she ultimately died from blood loss. Story continues below advertisement Adenyi, who pleaded not guilty, testified in his own defence, claiming he believed he was attacking a 'creature' at the time. He said he felt he had to strike first or risk being attacked. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy His mother also testified, telling the court her son had been experiencing hallucinations before the incident. His defence argued he was not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. However, the Crown maintained the attack was premeditated, pointing to Adenyi's deliberate actions in following and ambushing Ladouceur. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution. A conviction for first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. While a formal sentencing date has not yet been set, it is expected to be confirmed next week.
Global News
02-05-2025
- Global News
Jury in Calgary stabbing murder trial told by judge to consider NCR defence first
The judge overseeing the trial of a Calgary man accused of fatally attacking and stabbing a woman three years ago has told the jury there are four possible verdicts it could reach. Michael Adenyi, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the 2022 death of fitness instructor Vanessa Ladouceur on a downtown street. Adenyi has said he was hallucinating and believed he was attacking a creature when he attacked the woman and his lawyers say he is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. He followed Ladouceur for nearly two blocks before bodychecking her into an alcove and stabbing her several times, including six wounds to the face. She died from a loss of blood. Justice Jane Sidnell said the jury must first determine if Adenyi is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. Story continues below advertisement 'Mr. Adenyi relies on having suffered from a mental disorder at the time of the offence that rendered him incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of the attack on Vanessa Ladouceur or of knowing that the attack on Vanessa Ladouceur was wrong,' Sidnell said Friday. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'You will first consider Mr. Adenyi's NCR defence. Mr. Adenyi has the burden to prove his NCR defence. If you find that Mr. Adenyi has not proven his NCR defence, then you will consider the charge that Mr. Adenyi faces.' Sidnell said if the NCR defence is rejected, the jury must then consider whether he is guilty of manslaughter, second-degree murder or first-degree murder. She is urging jurors to use their common sense and to concentrate only on the evidence heard at trial. 'There will be no more evidence. It is your duty to decide if Mr. Adenyi has proven that it is more likely than not that he is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder at the time the crime was committed,' she said. 'You must make your decision on a rational and fair consideration and not on passion, sympathy or prejudice against Mr. Adenyi, the Crown or anyone else connected to this matter.' The Crown has said that Adenyi is guilty, that the attack was planned and he did not tell the truth about his memories of the attack when he testified during the trial and to mental health professionals after his arrest. Story continues below advertisement The case is to be in the hands of the jury soon.
CTV News
02-05-2025
- CTV News
Closing arguments made in murder trial of man who stabbed Calgary woman downtown
There was a full gallery at the first-degree murder trial of Michael Adenyi on Thursday as his defence team and Crown prosecutors presented closing arguments to the jury. Adenyi, 29, is charged in the death of Vanessa Ladouceur, 30, in the Beltline on March 18, 2022. He was captured on surveillance video following the woman while she walked to work to a fitness facility along 10th Avenue S.E. around 6:30 a.m. before tackling her into an alcove and stabbing her eight times in 11 seconds. The jury is expected to receive instructions and begin deliberations Friday. Defence argues Adenyi not criminally responsible Defence lawyer Kim Ross told the jury there is no doubt his client caused the death of Ladouceur but argued he should be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. 'The evidence is clear that Michael Adenyi was in the midst of a psychotic episode,' he told the court. Throughout the five-week trial, the jury heard from several witnesses, including the accused, who testified he was having audio and visual hallucinations leading up to and on the day of the attack. Adenyi said he thought he was being circled by animalistic creatures and that he had to attack or be killed and didn't realize until he cut himself that he was stabbing a person and not a demonic shadow. 'He was not lying to you. He was telling you the truth,' said Ross. Ross told the jury Adenyi shows all the hallmarks for schizophrenia and said his mental illness progressed between 2018 and 2022, citing testimony from his mother and sister about Adenyi talking to himself and seeing things that weren't there. The jury heard his parents also took him to see a psychiatrist at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre who diagnosed him with major depressive disorder and prescribed Prozac. 'Use your common sense,' he told the jury. 'They didn't do this for fun. They did this to try and help Michael.' Ross also referenced the psychiatrist who deemed Adenyi fit to stand trial also having concerns the accused suffered from an underlying psychotic illness. He argued the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was planned and deliberate, which is required for a first-degree murder conviction in Canada. Crown maintains killing was planned, deliberate The Crown maintained the killing was planned and deliberate. 'Michael Adenyi saw Vanessa Ladouceur and he decided to kill her. I submit the Crown has proven beyond doubt this killing was intentional,' said prosecutor Carla Macphail. Macphail dismissed the idea that Adenyi was suffering from a psychotic break but rather 'outright untruths.' The Crown argued the accused's stories about hallucinations were 'made up after the fact' and corroborated by his family, who want to help him. The jury heard the accused followed the woman on his bike and then on foot and waited until cars had passed before tackling the victim out of sight. 'He pursued her until the right moment to attack her. He body-checked her into that alcove, taking her right off her feet, and stabbed her multiple times with that large knife he had with him that day,' the Crown said. Adenyi was later seen on surveillance footage without the jacket he was wearing during the attack, which the Crown argued is evidence he removed so he wouldn't get caught because he knew what he did was wrong. Macphail also referenced two red notebooks found in a backpack Adenyi was seen dumping in an alley garbage that included notes like 'Death Note,' 'Three people to kill' and 'beat three times, rape torture.' Ladouceur was stabbed eight times in 11 seconds, with many blows to the head and neck. Macphail argued Adenyi's internet search history also reflects plans to kill, including 'How strong is a human skull?' and 'How much blood loss can a person handle?' Vanessa Ladouceur (Erika Ladouceur) Vanessa Ladouceur (Erika Ladouceur) Family remembers Vanessa Ladouceur There was a full gallery Thursday for the closing arguments. The family of Ladouceur, including her mother, has been a steady presence in the courtroom gallery throughout the trial. Erika Ladouceur has described her daughter to CTV as very kind, spiritual, intelligent and an avid reader. Ladouceur was born and lived in Toronto but moved to Calgary with her mother and sister when she was around two years old. Adenyi's father and a small group of his family members have also been attending the trial, in addition to several members of the public.
Global News
28-04-2025
- Health
- Global News
Psychiatrist had concerns during fitness test for Calgary man charged with 1st-degree murder
A psychiatrist who deemed a Calgary man fit to stand trial for a fatal attack on a woman three years ago had concerns the accused suffered from an underlying psychotic illness, court heard Monday. Michael Adenyi, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of fitness instructor Vanessa Ladouceur on a downtown street. The 30-year-old victim was walking to work in the early morning of March 18, 2022, when she was attacked. Adenyi has said he believed he was attacking a creature when he assaulted the woman. He said the creature looked like lions, tigers and bears with mangled faces and that he had to attack or risk being killed. He told the court that when he cut himself during the fatal attack, he was shocked back into reality and discovered the demonic creature was a person. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Adenyi's lawyers are arguing he is not criminally responsible by reason of a medical disorder. Story continues below advertisement Calgary psychiatrist Dr. David Tano assessed whether Adenyi was fit to stand trial in April 2022. 'I felt that he was able to articulate the necessary criteria for fitness to stand trial,' he told court Monday. He testified before the jury that Adenyi seemed to be aware of the charges against him, how the court system worked and the consequences of what would happen if he were found guilty. But Tano's fitness appraisal raised some concerns, he said. The psychiatrist said Adenyi had considered suicide in the past and seemed to have difficulties answering more in-depth questions. 'It started raising concerns for me that he was having difficulties with his thoughts,' he said. 'He talked about being a recluse and having these kind of difficulties with auditory hallucinations, where he talked about in the past hearing these whispers and these voices saying his name or telling him to kill himself or starve himself. 'He also referred to visual hallucinations where he saw ghosts and people as well as himself.' Tano said Adenyi tried to downplay his hallucinations but also expressed fears about being kidnapped and that his fitness to stand trial could change. 'I feared this gentleman suffered from an underlying psychotic illness that wasn't being picked up or treated and I feared that the psychotic process may, if it was there, may actually impact his ability to attend the court processes in the future,' Tano said. Story continues below advertisement 'I wanted to inform the courts that fitness may become an issue in the future. I was also querying that perhaps if psychosis is an issue, if the person is shown to have actually done the alleged crime, that the courts may want to consider the NCR defence.'
