Winnipeg hospital attack survivor says she is 'forever changed' at hearing for man who killed parents
Judge approves recommendation that Trevor Farley be found not criminally responsible due to mental disorder
Family of Candyce Szkwarek wept as she told Winnipeg court she no longer feels safe, detailing the devastation of no longer being able to do her job and how she was "forever changed" by the stabbing attack she suffered at the hands of Trevor Farley two years ago — on the same day Farley fatally stabbed his parents.
"I no longer feel safe anywhere," Szkwarek said Tuesday in Manitoba Court of King's Bench, where Farley, 39, was found not criminally responsible for the crimes he committed on Oct. 27, 2021.
"This is debilitating and exhausting."
Justice Ken Champagne found Farley not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder for killing his parents before driving to Seven Oaks Hospital, where he previously worked, and turning a knife on Szkwarek, his former supervisor.
Farley was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his father, Stuart Farley, and second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Judy Swain.
He was also charged with attempted murder after stabbing Szkwarek about 20 times at Seven Oaks Hospital.
At a hearing Monday, Crown attorneys and Farley's defence team jointly recommended he be found not criminally responsible.
A report from a team of psychiatric and psychological experts suggested Farley was suffering from an atypical form of bipolar disorder when he committed the attacks, featuring manic episodes and depressive episodes with anxious distress and psychotic features.
They said he was experiencing "religious-based" delusions and thought he was a prophet sent by God to "cut the contamination" from the souls of his parents and Szkwarek in order to save them.
The team also relied on reports documenting similar symptoms by health-care workers at various points in the days leading up to the attack, when Farley sought mental health treatment at St. Boniface Hospital, the Health Sciences Centre and the Mental Health Crisis Response Centre.
'High-risk accused'
On Tuesday, Crown attorney Shannon Benevides requested Justice Champagne designate Farley a "high-risk accused."
The rare designation has never been sought in Manitoba in a case of someone being found not criminally responsible, Benevides said. If granted, the decision would ultimately be sent to a review board.
A high-risk designation carries mandatory detention in a hospital setting, which can only be revoked by a superior court justice. If the designation is made, Farley would only be allowed to leave the hospital facility under supervision for appointments.
Szkwarek's daughter, one of four people who gave victim impact statements Tuesday, implored Champagne to do whatever he could to ensure her mother can enjoy as many years as possible in peace.
Jackie Motoch said her mother "lives in fear every day that as soon as he is able to, he will come back and finish what he started."
Farley checked himself into the crisis response centre the night before the attacks. By the next morning, a psychiatric team decided to have him involuntarily admitted there.
However, he walked out of the facility hours later and drove to his father's home in Winnipeg. Farley stabbed his father repeatedly, before heading to his mother's in New Bothwell, southeast of Winnipeg, and killing her.
Following that, he stopped at St. Boniface Hospital looking for help, then visited the crisis response centre again, but turned around and left moments later, court heard.
He then drove to Seven Oaks Hospital and stabbed Szkwarek numerous times. Police captured him just outside, after he was tackled and chased by a doctor there.
Police took statements from over a dozen witnesses of the hospital attack, two of whom — Lori Schellenberg and Heloise Buhler — read victim impact statements Tuesday.
Both said they live with post-traumatic stress disorder that has greatly impacted their quality of life.
WATCH | Szkwarek on why she felt compelled to hug Farley's siblings after court:
Schellenberg described the "screaming and chaos" and "blood everywhere" as she entered the scene and provided crisis management.
"I don't believe I will ever be the same person," said Schellenberg, a registered psychiatric nurse who has been in a management role at Seven Oaks for almost 15 years.
Buhler, then a director of clinical services for renal care at Seven Oaks, said she went into shock that day.
Both said they have struggled to re-integrate back into the workplace.
"I had always thought of a hospital as being a universal safe zone. That was shattered," said Buhler.
Szkwarek hugs Farley's family
Court heard Szkwarek was hospitalized for about four months and required several surgeries. She experienced kidney failure and required dialysis for a time.
Her husband, whom she cared for after he had a stroke several years ago, had to be placed in a care home after the attack. His condition deteriorated there and he eventually died.
She hasn't been able to return the job she once loved, she told court during her victim impact statement.
Szkwarek said she is haunted by the attack and much of her life these days revolves around followup appointments.
She believes Farley needs to be designated a high-risk offender and kept under close watch in a medical facility.
After her statement in court, Szkwarek walked across the courtroom gallery and hugged one of Farley's brothers.
"I just felt the need to tell them that it's OK, because I know how hard it must be for them," Szkwarek said after court. "That's just who I am. I couldn't have left there without talking to them."
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