A young Toronto man who brutally butchered his aunt as part of a twisted sex fantasy has received a life sentence for the horrific killing……CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
In 2016, Shayne MacDonald stabbed his 38-year-old aunt, Sarah Vermelhudo, nine times and slit her throat before turning the knife on her mother inside an apartment on College Street.
‘This was a particularly brutal killing. The attack was extreme,’ Superior Court Justice Rita-Jean Maxwell told the court Tuesday during MacDonald’s sentencing, which includes no chance of parole for 14 years.
‘She had defensive wounds, so did not die immediately. She fought. She struggled, she suffered.’
The killer, who was 21 at the time of the murder, sat still and showed no emotion as the judge read her sentence, the Toronto Star reported.
Prosecutors had argued that MacDonald’s actions were part of long-held fantasy of killing and sexually assaulting his aunt.
‘Violence and death were both a means to an end and part of the sexual act itself,’ the judge wrote. ‘Mr. MacDonald’s ideal sexual act was to have sex with a dead or dying person.’
MacDonald’s defense lawyers argued that he should not be found responsible due to a mental disorder. They said he suffered a psychotic episode and that his actions were due to a paranoid delusion that he was in danger.
Sarah Vermelhudo, 38, was murdered by her nephew as part of long-held fantasy he had of killing and sexually assaulting her, prosecutors said
Sarah Vermelhudo, 38, was murdered by her nephew as part of long-held fantasy he had of killing and sexually assaulting her, prosecutors said
Shayne MacDonald’s defence attorney’s argued he should not be found responsible due to a mental disorder
Shayne MacDonald’s defence attorney’s argued he should not be found responsible due to a mental disorder
The judge called the killing ‘a serious betrayal of trust,’ emphasizing the devastating impact it had on the Vermelhudo family, especially the victim’s mother, Maria, who survived MacDonald’s attack.
Family members said his relationship with Vermelhudo was amicable and that she had been particularly supportive of him during his struggles with mental health.
MacDonald committed the murder on the night of Dec. 16, 2016, after going to Vermelhudo’s apartment to watch a movie with her.
About 10 minutes after he arrived, Vermelhudo’s mother heard screaming. MacDonald stabbed her nine times in the chest, stomach and lower back with a pocketknife he brought with him.
He also cut her across the throat, severing her jugular and causing heavy bleeding.
When Maria approached, MacDonald grabbed her by the hair and stabbed her twice in the middle of the back as they struggled.
Maria was able to escape and recover in the hospital after her partner intervened.
MacDonald fled the home and left the pocketknife behind. He hid for three days before police arrested him at a bus stop after receiving a tip of a person matching MacDonald’s description.
Vermelhudo had an amicable relationship with her nephew and was particularly supportive of him during his struggles with mental health
Vermelhudo had an amicable relationship with her nephew and was particularly supportive of him during his struggles with mental health
MacDonald was arrested for murdering his aunt in 2016, but his full sentence was handed down this week
The convicted murderer had no prior history of violence or criminal record, but his mother struggled with addiction and his father was abusive to her. He was also bullied by his brother and a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
At the time of the murder, MacDonald lived by himself in social housing. He struggled with social anxiety and depression, and spent most of his time playing video games.
He had long struggled with his mental health and sought help about a year and a half before killing his aunt. He also had a recorded history of sexually violent and homicidal thoughts.
‘Mr. MacDonald has a documented history of having sexual fantasies involving family members and violent thoughts. His longstanding interest in violence and death is concerning,’ Judge Maxwell said.
At an earlier sentencing hearing, MacDonald said he was sorry for what he did and that he regretted not getting more mental health intervention before the murder.
The judge said he showed some rehabilitative potential due to his remorse, but the aggravating features of his case drove his parole ineligibility period above the 10-year minimum……CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
