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Not Criminally Responsible: Cousin's Killer Acquitted
27 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Man found not criminally responsible for cousin's death.
- Family expressed outrage over the judge's decision.
- Ontario Review Board to decide Laureano's fate next.
In a Hamilton courtroom, a judge declared a man not criminally responsible for the death of his cousin, who was fatally stabbed in 2023. Justice Andrew Goodman found Laureano Bistoyong guilty of unlawfully causing the death of Mark Bistoyong but deemed him not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, triggered immediate and intense reactions from family members present, who voiced their distress vocally and with disruptive actions.
The legal proceedings followed Bistoyong's conviction for second-degree murder in October 2024, stemming from an incident on July 1, 2023, where he stabbed his 16-year-old cousin during a family barbecue. The sentencing phase, which began late last year, involved over 200 victim impact statements. A planned January sentencing was postponed for comprehensive mental health and criminal responsibility assessments.
Psychiatric testimonies were heard on October 28 and 30 this year, with experts offering opinions on Bistoyong's mental state around the time of the offense. The case will now proceed to the Ontario Review Board, which is expected to review Laureano's situation and decide on subsequent steps, likely within the next 45 days.
