Man who admitted killing mother and grandparents to learn fate in new year

A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judgewill rule in the new year whether a 32-year-old man whoadmitted he killed his mother and maternal grandparents is criminally responsible for the murders.

The bodies of Bill and Ida Ward and their daughter Ann were found on Jan. 7, 2015, in the burned-out remains of the elder Wards' home on the Old Guysborough Road in Goffs, N.S.

Codey Hennigar has admitted to the killings, but the prosecution and defencesay he is not criminally responsible for the three second-degree murder charges he faces.

His Halifax murder trialbefore Justice Patrick Murray heard from three forensic psychiatrists this week. Allagreed that Hennigarhad suffered from schizophrenia and was in the grips of a psychotic episode when he bludgeoned his three family members, then set the house on fire.

"Words cannot capture the horror of what happened on Jan. 7," Crown prosecutor Mark Heerema said in his closing arguments Friday. He said the deaths have left a void in the family.

'Fell through the cracks'

Heerema said Hennigar "fell through the cracks," because even though his behaviour in the weeks before the killings raisedsuspicions among some family members and other people, he refused treatment.

Hennigar was arrested shortly after the burning house was discovered. He was driving his grandmother'scar and rammed two police vehicles before he could be apprehended.

He's been held in the East Coast Forensic Hospital since shortly after his arrest and has been undergoing treatment for his mental condition. Psychiatrists said they noted gradual improvement since treatment began.

Hennigar sat quietly beside his lawyer throughout the trial. As he was led from court Fridaymorning by sheriff's deputies, he waved at a woman in the public gallery who waved back. Family members have attended the entire hearing.

Hennigar will return to court Jan. 31 to learn his fate. If, as the lawyers recommend, he's found not criminally responsible, he'll be returned to the forensic hospital and be dealt with by the province's criminal code review board.

CBC News reporter Blair Rhodes live bloggedfrom the courtroom.