The Canadian murderer of Indian student Kartik Vasudev has been convicted.
Toronto man Richard Edwin has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 killings of two men. One of them is 21-year-old Indian student Kartik Vasudev. The other is 35-year-old Elijah Eleazar Mahepath. There was no connection between the three men, and the two murders occurred two days apart. Both victims died from multiple gunshot wounds. Edwin was arrested and charged in 2022, but he did not plead guilty due to mental disorder.According to Edwin’s court records, he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia since 2010.But Judge Jane Kelly said the mental disorder did not prevent Edwin from knowing that what he was doing was morally wrong. Judge Jane Kelly said: “I am satisfied beyond any doubt that the murders of Mr Vasudev and Mir Mahpas were planned and deliberate.”Edwin became aware of the nature of his actions because he conducted many searches on the Internet about violence, how to win a gunfight, and organs vulnerable to bullet damage.“His behavior appeared to be rational, methodical and organised,” the judge’s decision said.Gaurav Vasdev, Kartik’s cousin, posted after the killer’s conviction: “Though hearts remain heavy, justice has finally been served. Four years after Kartik’s tragic death, a Canadian court found his killer guilty of first-degree murder. While no verdict will fill the void, this is a monumental step for our family. Rest in peace, little brother.”In January 2022, Karthik was studying a marketing management course at Seneca College in Toronto. He was working a part-time job at the time of his death.A first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years, with multiple counts to be served concurrently.
