True Names division of our True Crime Dept.

The following story appeared today on Canada's Global TV News. Pretty much a typical Toronto news story, except for the names of the shooter and shootee, which you have to admit are unusual, even for the marginalized community.

A Vaughan man who admitted to killing a Toronto-area rap artist but argued he was not guilty due to a mental disorder that rendered him not criminally responsible (NCR) has been found guilty of first-degree murder. Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell accepted that Nirusan Shakespearethas was suffering from a mental disorder when he shot and killed 24-year-old Stephen Little-McClacken on July 16, 2022, just outside Scotiabank Arena. 

However, Judge Forestell found that Shakespearethas could appreciate the moral wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the killing and was therefore criminally responsible. "The actions of Mr. Shakespearethas before, during and after the shooting are not consistent with Mr. Shakespearethas' account that he was experiencing command hallucinations, hearing voices and seeing demons. He had a long-standing animus with Mr. Little-McClacken. The reason for his animus is not clear. Before the killing, he researched 'how to get away with murder,' not 'how to kill the devil.'" 

Shakespearethas testified at trial that he believed that Little-McClacken, a rap artist who performed under the name "YB Stainz," was the devil and said he killed him to save the world. Judge Forestell said she rejected Shakespearethas' account of his thinking at the time of the killing because there were many inconsistencies in the accounts he gave to various medical professionals and during his testimony at trial.

"I find that Mr. Shakespearethas' account of his thinking at the time of the shooting evolved over time. I find that Mr. Shakespearethas exaggerated some symptoms and fabricated others. The nature and frequency of his reported symptoms increased with each assessment."

According to an agreed statement of facts, Shakespearethas fired 12 rounds. At least eight shots struck Little-McClacken, including two to the head. Forestell said the inconsistencies in Shakespearethas' account included whether or not the two had met in person before, his reason for buying a gun, the hallucinations he reported seeing before and during the killing and the timing of his decision to kill Little-McClacken.