Chemainus man not criminally responsible for stabbing neighbour to death and injuring teenage girl

The Supreme Court of B.C. has found a Chemainus man not criminally responsible for killing a man in 2016 and seriously injuring a young woman.

According to a recent court judgment, Colin Faustus John applied to be found not responsible for stabbing to death his 20 year-old neighbour Derek Descoteau and injuring 16-year-old Janelle Guyatt in May 2016.

John was arrested the day of the murder and found unfit to stand trial six times before being declared ready to stand trial in Aug. 2021.

On Nov. 30 2021, John pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault and was returned to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam where he had been incarcerated.

In May 2022, John’s lawyer made an application for him to be deemed not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder. Crown argued John did not meet those requirements and that the slaying could have been a thrill kill and based on real anger.