The Ramara Twp. man who stabbed his mother thirty times inside their home in February 2021, while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis, will be freed from jail Friday.
Michael Lahay, 34, was sentenced inside a Newmarket courtroom Thursday morning by Justice Jill Cameron who granted Lahay a statutory release two-thirds into his seven-year sentence for killing his mother, Wendy, four years ago citing harsh conditions faced by Lahay while in jail.
The court heard, as part of a joint submission by the Crown and defence counsel Brad Greenshields and Julianna Greenspan, Lahay consumed about a dozen homemade cannabis brownies that resulted in Lahay being in a cannabis-induced state of psychosis that rendered him incapable of forming an intention to kill his mother and stepfather.
Lahay has been in jail for more than 1,400 days and was sentenced to seven years less credit for time served in pre-custody for manslaughter; the charge he pleaded guilty to in June 2024. Lahay had initially been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault for the attack on his mother and stepfather.
The court heard stabbed his mother 30 times in the head, neck and chest and she died of blood loss. The largest wound was a 25 centimetre cut to the centre of her chest, the court heard.
In her acceptance of the joint submission for statutory release, Justice Cameron agreed Lahay faced especially-harsh conditions while in custody where he was either locked down or denied access to programming in jail for all but 38 days of his imprisonment. Greenshields said the court reached a just result with the acceptance of the joint proposal.
“We do believe that it was a significant part of what was taken into consideration by the court and by counsel in arriving at the result that was adopted by the court,” said Greenshields outside the Newmarket courthouse.
“It’s a very difficult case; tragic circumstances We’re certainly relieved for both Michael and his family,” said Greenshields. “It’s been an incredibly difficult and long period of time and significant circumstances of custody.”
Lahay’s family, including his sister Amanda supported him and offered letters of support to the court prior to his sentencing hearing in December. His sister, while still traumatized by the loss of their mother, said she is desperate to put the case behind them.
“She’d be happy that Michael is coming home,” said Amanda when asked what her mother would think about the sentence and case. “But it is still hard to believe that she is gone after four years. I miss her all the time.”
Amanda Lahay and her husband along with her stepfather were in court throughout the court proceedings. Stepfather Paul Alexander suffered serious injuries in the attack but survived after he fought off his stepson who was found by police naked outside the home.
Lahay was described by his stepfather as having a bizarre “zombie” look on his face prior to the attack. A witness told police Wendy Lahay could be heard saying “I still love you” while her son stabbed her.
“These cases are some of the most challenging for our criminal justice system when you have a very serious event that takes place on the one hand, but on the other hand, everybody agrees that there was an extremely-diminished level of responsibility given the circumstances in play,” said Greenshields.
Lahay addressed the court and apologized to his family. He thanked them for their ongoing support and pledged to make amends to his loved ones for the remainder of his life.
“For all this hell my family has been through I do believe we’ll become stronger,” he said from the prisoner’s box. “As long as I’ve got them supporting me there is nothing I cannot do.”
Lahay expressed regret for his actions and told the court he never meant to kill his mother.
“I know in my heart that if I didn’t take any edibles and I didn’t listen to stupid friends and I put my heart in charge that night instead of being stupid with drugs I know none of this would have ever happened and my mom would be here today welcoming me home.”
Amanda Lahay said she hopes the worst is behind them.
“I just hope that this is a wakeup call for him and that he’ll never do anything like this again.”
Once released from jail, Lahay ,as part of his sentencing conditions, will be placed on probation for three years and is banned from possessing weapons for life.
