Trial begins for Keswick man accused of murder in senior’s death

Brad Strickler is on trial, accused of killing 85-year-old Sandy Gauthier in her home in Keswick, Ont., in 2022.

Warning: Details in this article may be disturbing and triggering to readers.

The trial of a Keswick man accused of first-degree murder in the death of a senior got underway on Tuesday in a Newmarket courtroom.

Brad Strickler, 24, is accused of murder in the brutal death of Sandy Gauthier, 85, inside her Keswick home three years ago.

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In its opening address to the jury, the Crown said Strickler, after a night of drinking with his sister, went for a walk in the neighbourhood and broke into Gauthier’s home where she lived alone in the early morning hours of January 15, 2022.

The Crown told the court Strickler sexually assaulted Gauthier in her bed and a struggle ensued before Strickler stabbed Gauthier in her head and neck. His DNA, the Crown said, was found inside Gauthier. His underwear was found near her body.

The Crown told the jury Strickler moved Gauthier’s naked body to the shower and set fire to her home. He then walked for about five minutes to his home around the block and went to sleep.

Crown Attorney Robert Scott told the jury Strickler pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Gauthier’s death but the Crown rejected the plea and argues Strickler should be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of murdering Gauthier after he violently sexually assaulted her.

“There are different ways to commit first-degree murder,” said Scott. ”This is not a case of planning and deliberation. We are not suggesting he planned this murder.”

The Crown said Strickler is charged with another kind of first-degree murder “while sexually assaulting” Gauthier.

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The Crown said the defence would likely argue Strickler was too intoxicated by alcohol “he could not form the specific intent to murder Gauthier.”

The Crown said it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt Strickler had a specific intent for murder the night he killed Gauthier.

Neighbours said Gauthier, a mother of five, grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of nine lived in the home with her husband for years until his passing 11 years ago.

Strickler has been behind bars since his arrest in late October 2022, following several appeals by York Regional Police for the public’s help, including the release of surveillance video which showed a man police described as a person of interest near Gauthier’s home a few hours before the fire broke out.

The trial is scheduled for four weeks and continues Wednesday.