KELOWNA, B.C. — The Kelowna, B.C., man who admitted to using a hammer to kill his mother has been found not criminally responsible for the crime because of a mental disorder.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Alison Beames handed down her verdict on 26-year-old Coner Grossmith shortly after Crown and defence lawyers wrapped up their cases Friday.
Several psychiatrists told the trial that Grossmith had bipolar disorder and was in the middle of a severe episode of manic psychosis when the killing took place.
Grossmith told police after the murder that he didn't remember killing his mother, Kathleen, while she was in bed in September 2012.
The trial heard that Grossmith had been drinking the night of the murder and his blood-alcohol level was a four times the legal driving limit of .08.
While both Crown and defence lawyers agreed at trial that Grossmith shouldn't go to prison for his actions, the judge still needed to decide of the man's consumption of alcohol that night made his actions criminal.
