Calgary rejected not criminally responsible defence, finds man guilty of murder

A jury has found a Calgary man guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a woman on a downtown street three years ago. Twenty-nine-year-old Michael Adenyi is charged with first-degree murder in the 2022 death of fitness instructor Vanessa Ladouceur on a downtown street.

Adenyi has said he was hallucinating and believed he was attacking a creature when he attacked the woman and his lawyers say he is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.

He followed Ladouceur for nearly two blocks before body checking her into an alcove and stabbing her several times, including six wounds to the face. She died from a loss of blood.

The jury rejected the not criminally responsible plea and convicted him of first-degree murder. A sentencing date will be set on May 9.