Kitimat father found not responsible for killing daughter

The fate of a Kitimat father who stabbed his daughter to death in 2006 is now before a psychiatric review board.

On Wednesday, Justice Harvey Groberman found Blair Donnelly was not criminally responsible for killinghis16-year-old daughter Stephanie because of a mental disorder. His trial on a charge of second-degree murder began on Monday.

Donnelly has been transferred toa forensic psychiatric unit in Port Coquitlam and the psychiatric review board has 45 days to decide what will happen next.

At trial, the court heard testimony that Donnelly thought God wanted him to kill his daughter,a popular teen who coached figuring skating in the community.

Psychiatrists testified Donnelly was in a psychotic state in November 2006 when hestabbed the girl in the family home. He was later found praying outside a local church with blood on his hands, the court was told.

Crown prosecutors Barry Zacharias and Michael Fulmer did not dispute the claim Donnelly was psychotic. Donnelly's lawyer, Paul Pakenham, said the case was exceptional.

"This is a very, very unique situation. Given the severity of Mr. Donnelly's mental illness, he will require prolonged treatment and that will be in a secure institution," Pakenham said.

"They were a model Canadian family up to the point of this incident. His conduct that evening can only be explained by aberrant behaviour from a mental disorder. That was clear to everyone. That was clear to the judge," Pakenham said.

Stephanie Donnelly was buried in Alberta, where her mother and sister now live.