The killer in a
mass stabbing in Barrhaven last year pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in court on Thursday.
De-Zoysa killed six people, including four children, at a rented townhouse on Berrigan Drive. He was living with the family in the basement rent free as an international student at Algonquin College.
De-Zoysa was originally charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Killed in the attack were Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, a 35-year-old wife and mother; and her children, seven-year-old Inuka Wickramasinghe, four-year-old Ashwini Wickramasinghe, three-year-old Ranaya Wickramasinghe, and two-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe. A family friend, 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon, was also killed.
Ekanayake’s husband,
Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, was seriously injured in the attack. He was the lone survivor.
The court heard that the Wickramasinghe family and De-Zoysa often had meals together. The Wickramasinghe family also treated De-Zoysa as a member of their own.
The court also learned that De-Zoysa fell into depression and suicidal thoughts after he failed out of his classes at Algonquin. He spent most of his days leading up to the murders in his basement playing video games and only had a little more than $2 to his name.
Wickramasinghe and members of the Sri Lankan community sat in the front rows of the courtroom. Many were weeping silently when De-Zoysa read out his plea, and while the Crown was addressing the court.
ottawacitizen.com
