A Toronto court has sentenced Richard Edwin to life imprisonment for the killing of 21‑year‑old Indian student Kartik Vasudev, rejecting his plea that he was not criminally responsible due to mental illness. The ruling was delivered by Justice Jane Kelly of the Superior Court of Toronto, who found Edwin guilty on two counts of first‑degree murder for the killings of two strangers on April 7 and April 9, 2022.
Vasudev, a resident of Ghaziabad and a student at Seneca College, had moved to Toronto in January 2022 to pursue management studies. On April 8, 2022, he was walking past Sherbourne subway station toward the Bloor Street East staircase when Edwin rushed past him, turned around, and shot him eight times, killing him instantly.
Edwin also killed another stranger, 35‑year‑old Elijah Eleazar Mahepath, two days later in a separate shooting near Dundas and Sherbourne. Police described both attacks as random, unprovoked, and without any connection between Edwin and the victims.
During the trial, Edwin’s defense argued that he should be declared Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) because he suffered from schizophrenia and allegedly could not distinguish right from wrong. The court acknowledged his mental illness but ruled that Edwin still understood the nature of his actions, calling the murders “planned and deliberate.” Justice Kelly rejected the NCR plea and imposed a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Kartik’s parents, Jitesh and Pooja Vasudev, remained in Canada throughout the proceedings and expressed relief after the verdict. They described their son as sincere, hardworking, respectful, and the “heart of their family.” After a four‑year legal battle, they said the ruling finally brought them justice and closure.
Vasudev’s body was repatriated to Ghaziabad, where he was cremated on the banks of the Hindan River. His younger brother performed the last rites. The family, residents of Rajendra Nagar, had earlier expressed frustration over the lack of official assistance during the repatriation process.