Keswick, Ont. man convicted of murder in violent killing of 85-year-old woman

The Keswick, Ont. man on trial for murder in the killing of an 85-year-old woman inside her home in 2022 has been found guilty by a jury.

Brad Strickler, 24, was convicted of first-degree murder in the brutal slaying of Sandy Gauthier at her Miami Dr. Keswick home January 15, 2022 before Strickler set fire to the home.

Gauthier’s loved ones left the Newmarket, Ont. courthouse Tuesday night pleased with the jury’s decision.

“The jury got it right,” said her youngest son Terry Gauthier, who had been in attendance throughout the trial which got underway two weeks ago.

The jury of six women and five men deliberated for about seven hours Tuesday following about two hours of instructions from Justice Jill Cameron.

Strickler’s fate hinged upon whether the Crown could prove beyond a reasonable doubt Strickler had the required state of mind to commit murder. The jury ultimately concluded he did when it found Strickler sexually assaulted, stabbed and killed Gauthier then set her home ablaze.

The Crown told the court Strickler admitted to killing Gauthier inside her home after he violently sexually assaulted Gauthier then moved her body to the bathroom and set her house on fire before returning to his home moments later.

The defence, however, argued Strickler was too intoxicated by alcohol to have the mental state for murder. Defence lawyers Peter Zaduk and Victoria Strugurescu said Strickler had been drinking hard liquor with his loved ones for several hours before going for a walk around the neighbourhood, and entering Gauthier’s home and killing her. The defence argued Strickler could not have possessed the mental state to commit murder due to his level of intoxication.

The Crown told the court Strickler had pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of manslaughter in Gauthier’s death but the Crown rejected his plea. The Crown successfully argued Strickler violated Gauthier then stabbed her repeatedly in the head and neck in her bedroom before torching the home.

The jury was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt Strickler was guilty of first-degree murder.

Strickler’s sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin next Thursday when it’s expected the court will hear victim impact statements from the family of Sandy Gauthier.