TORONTO — An Ontario Superior Court has found Richard Jonathan Edwin guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the 2022 shooting deaths of Indian international student Kartik Vasudev and a second victim, Elijah Eleazar Mahepath. The verdict, delivered Monday by Justice Jane Kelly, concludes a high-profile trial that began after a series of unprovoked attacks shook the city of Toronto two years ago.
The convictions stem from two separate, fatal incidents that occurred within just 48 hours in April 2022. The first victim, 21-year-old Kartik Vasudev, was a Seneca College student who had moved to Canada from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. He was shot multiple times without provocation while outside the Sherbourne TTC station. Two days later, 35-year-old Elijah Eleazar Mahepath was killed in a nearly identical manner while walking near the intersection of Dundas and George Streets. At the time, Toronto Police described the shootings as completely random, noting that neither victim had any prior connection to the shooter.
During the trial, the court addressed defense claims that Edwin’s mental health rendered him incapable of being held criminally responsible for the crimes. However, Justice Jane Kelly rejected these arguments, describing the defendant’s actions as “rational and calculated.” The judge emphasized that the murders were meticulously planned, noting that the victims were innocent bystanders targeted in cold blood. Evidence presented during the trial included a large cache of legally purchased firearms and ammunition found at Edwin’s residence following his arrest.
The verdict brings a sense of closure to a case that sparked international concern regarding the safety of students in Canada. Former Toronto Police Chief James Ramer had previously noted that Edwin’s arrest likely prevented further tragedies, as the suspect appeared to be on a dangerous and escalating path of violence. With the first-degree murder conviction, Edwin now faces a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years.
