A Chinese national who claimed a Canadian doctor blinded him after an eye surgery, then randomly stabbed two women, killing one on a Toronto subway, will spend over two decades in prison.
Toronto Superior Court Justice Joan Barrett sentenced 55-year-old Neng Jia Jin to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the stabbing death of 31-year-old Vanessa Kurpiewska and the stabbing of 37-year-old Sulakshana Srijeyarayah. Jin pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted murder in February.
On Dec. 8, 2022, officers rushed to a subway train approaching High Park station from Runnymede station after reports of a stabbing, and the emergency brakes were pulled. Upon arrival, they found Kurpiewska and Srijeyarayah with critical stab wounds. Both women were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Kurpiewska succumbed to her injuries, while Srijeyarayah survived the ordeal.
Jin was arrested at the scene after a Good Samaritan restrained him.
According to prosecutors, Jin told investigators that a Canadian doctor had botched a surgery on his eyes and rendered him blind. Furthermore, the defendant was told he had no recourse to sue because he had neither legal alien status nor Canadian citizenship. Enraged, Jin decided he would take revenge on Canadian citizens.
“I stabbed two people today. They are innocent. My eyes were blinded and I’m innocent … I was harmed by you Canadians and now I feel balanced inside,” said Jin during the sentencing hearing, reported Global News.
On that fateful day, though the defendant initially took a bus from Kennedy Station in Scarborough, Jin didn’t harm anyone on the bus because he couldn’t see. However, a few hours later, the defendant claimed he was able to see when he stalked a woman who managed to evade him by jumping off the train before the door closed. Then, Jin boarded the train that both victims were riding before stabbing Kurpiewska seven times, where she sat, and Srijeyarayah in the abdomen, hand, arm, and leg.
Jin will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years in prison.
Kurpiewska’s family described her as a kind soul whose life was taken by a pure act of evil. Also, Srijeyarayah was left with extensive permanent nerve damage and a physical scar.
“This tragedy highlights the significant challenges transit workers and law enforcement face. It serves as a reminder that the TTC must continue the necessary work with relevant agencies to prioritize restoring trust and ensuring safety,” said the TTC in a community impact statement, according to the Toronto Star.
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