A Toronto man who killed and killed an unarmed foreigner was sentenced to life imprisonment without any chance of parole for 18 years.
The judge of the Superior Court, Maureen Forestll, called the murder of John Wheeler “Deeply serious” is the result of the fact that 18 years Christopher Mitchell I wanted to avoid being potentially apprehended by the police for a break.
Last October, Mitchell pleaded guilty to second degree murder Admitting that on August 12, 2020, he killed Wheeler with a hunting rifle outside the building at 1350 Danforth Rd. Where Wheeler lived.
Mitchell and another person attended the apartment complex with the intention of entering a convenience store. They were in an alcove near the store when Wheeler emerged from the building hall to go to work.
Wheeler looked in the direction of the alcove and watched his phone before moving to the aisle to wait for his ride to work. Mr. Mitchell thought that Mr. Wheeler contacted the police. Mr. Mitchell removed a hunting rifle from the Duffel bag he wore. He slipped behind Mr. Wheeler and pulled him in the back.
Wheeler, a 45 -year -old man who delivered dry partitions to make a living, had sent a text to his friend to tell him that he was outside and ready to be picked up.
In the impact declarations on the victims broadcast on Monday in court, Wheeler, who was 45 years old and the youngest of 12 children, was described as a kind, funny, worker and generous man.
Reading her reasons for the sentence, Forestell said: “The loss of a loved one is always difficult, but when this loss is the result of insane violence, it is even more painful. In addition to the impact on the family and friends of Mr. Wheeler, crimes like this have an impact on the whole community. A good worker man waiting to work has been shot and killed in a targeted manner.
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“This type of offense undermines our collective feeling of security and security in our community.”
A psychological relationship prepared by Dr. Giorgio Ilacqua noted that Mitchell, the eldest of four brothers and sisters, suffered significant physical violence as a child. Consequently, he was placed at the group home and a foster family at the age of 15 due to physical violence.
The court learned that Mitchell had been raised by his mother because his father was in the criminal justice system and had no contact with his father for five years. He also received a diagnosis of mental illnesses and a drug addiction disorder.
“At about 12 years old, Mitchell began to hear voices. It was evaluated at one point at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health and received a diagnosis of post-traumatic, depression and anxiety stress disorder. However, he received no treatment or medication for these conditions before his arrest on the load before me.
The court heard that Mitchell has also abused substances since the age of 11. Mr. Mitchell admitted Ilacqua that he was involved in criminal activity in his adolescence and that this included the sale of drugs.
Mr. Mitchell left school after the 10th year.
During his studies, he was frequently suspended, including for fighting, stabs and firearms. Since his imprisonment, Mr. Mitchell has completed his secondary studies and has started college levels. In detention, Mr. Mitchell also continued the biblical study.
Ilacqua administered a series of psychological tests. He diagnosed Mitchell with a post-traumatic stress disorder with psychotic characteristics, depression, anxiety and a substance consumption disorder. He tells of these conditions for the dysfunctional childhood of Mr. Mitchell and the abuse he suffered.
The risk assessment carried out by Ilacqua places Mr. Mitchell at a high risk of future involvement in the judicial system, but Ilacqua believes that the appropriate surveillance, structure and intervention could probably reduce the risk.
During an interview with Global News outside the courthouse, Wheeler’s niece said that the family was anxious to finish conviction after almost five years. Arlene Stuckless said that she has been angry for years and has gone through emotional roller coaster.
“There are a lot of people who could watch this right now,” Oh, this poor family, it’s not going to happen to us “but you don’t know honestly,” said without a corner.
Stuckless said that she hoped that Mitchell can be rehabilitated and wanted to see more social services for young men like Mitchell who come from broken houses.
“This is only the release of running in the streets, then they connect with bad people, they get their hands on this weapon and they think they are big guys and they are not,” said without corner.
Wheeler’s niece said that the family believed that a perpetuity sentence with a period of ineligibility for the 18-year-old parole is a sentence that should give Mitchell time to work on itself.
“So that he is incarcerated for so long – I hope he does not get involved with bad people and does not go on the wrong path and he takes the time he has given and he does something good with his life, then when he comes out of prison, he can help other young people, perhaps,” added without a corner.
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