A man from Manitoba, who fatally harmed his parents while experiencing a psychotic episode, is currently awaiting a decision on whether a judge will remove a restriction on his release. Trevor Farley was deemed not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder for the deaths of his parents, Stuart Farley and Judy Swain, as well as the attack on his former supervisor at Seven Oaks General Hospital in a short span on October 27, 2021. It was disclosed in 2023 that Farley was struggling with religious delusions at the time.
Justice Ken Champagne complied with the Crown’s request to categorize Farley as a “high-risk accused,” a rare classification that mandates his confinement in a hospital and permits conditional or absolute discharge only upon approval by a superior court judge. According to Crown prosecutor Shannon Benevides, Farley is the first individual to receive this designation, and the matter has not been legally contested before. This week, Champagne is set to hear arguments regarding the potential revocation of this designation.
Candyce Szkwarek stated that she will submit a victim impact statement to the court later this week. Farley assaulted Szkwarek multiple times at Seven Oaks following the incident with his parents. Szkwarek, alongside her family in court on Monday, expressed apprehension about Farley’s potential release, emphasizing the lasting impact the events have had on her life.
Dr. Skye Rousseau, a former forensic psychiatrist from Manitoba, provided testimony in court concerning his evaluation of Farley and his role in preparing a report on the case. Rousseau diagnosed Farley with bipolar disorder accompanied by psychotic symptoms, noting his unique presentation of mania, which could complicate future detection. Rousseau highlighted Farley’s actions leading up to the incidents, including seeking medical attention, and the challenges in predicting potential future psychotic episodes given his limited history of such occurrences.
During the court session, Farley, visibly emotional, engaged with his lawyer and Rousseau regarding his delusions preceding the tragic events. The prosecution anticipates that witnesses involved in Farley’s diagnosis and treatment will contribute to the ongoing hearings.