A British Columbia court has determined that a man, deemed delusional, is not accountable for the death of his wife.
Joseph Berkiw, a 70-year-old man from Chilliwack, B.C., has been found not criminally responsible for the stabbing death of his wife in 2024. The B.C. Supreme Court ruled on August 5, 2025, that at the time of the attack, Berkiw was acting under delusional feelings of persecution, which led to his actions.
The court's ruling follows a detailed assessment of Berkiw's mental state, which showed that he had been experiencing mental health crises and unusual behavior since December 2023. Berkiw's wife called the police in "extreme distress," stating that her husband was mentally ill and trying to kill everyone.
On two occasions prior to the attack, Berkiw's son had called the police due to his father's bizarre behavior on January 8 and January 12, 2024. However, the police did not apprehend Berkiw under the Mental Health Act as he did not present an immediate risk to himself or anyone else.
In the lead-up to the killing, Berkiw had become preoccupied with concerns about not getting paid from his job as a machinist. This preoccupation led to his delusional beliefs that his wife was being tortured or raped, and he believed that he was saving her by taking her life.
On January 17, 2024, Berkiw attacked his wife with a knife, stabbing her. He broke free of his son's grasp and got another knife, slashing his wife's throat and cutting his son. The victim's name cannot be disclosed due to a publication ban.
The court found Berkiw was suffering from a mental disorder that included "delusional beliefs." This legal status means that Berkiw is not held criminally accountable in the usual sense because his mental illness impaired his capacity to understand or control his actions during the incident.
Meanwhile, other news highlights include Air Canada flight attendants voting to strike, heated socks being recalled due to potential burns and blisters, and Canada expanding a recall for pistachio products due to possible salmonella. Mexico's Sheinbaum has expressed no need for a bilateral trade deal with Canada, and the FDA has approved new eye drops that can fix near vision, potentially reducing the need for reading glasses.
- The detailed mental health assessment of Joseph Berkiw revealed that he had been experiencing crises related to his mental health and wellness, and was undergoing delusional thoughts, particularly concerning his job, which led to his unfortunate actions.
- Although Berkiw's son had reported his father's bizarre behavior twice prior to the attack, the police did not take initiatives under the Mental Health Act as he did not present an immediate risk, which eventually led to the tragic event.
- While the court has ruled that Berkiw is not criminally responsible due to his mental disorder, it is important to note that other general news includes a vote by Air Canada flight attendants to strike, a recall of heated socks due to safety concerns, and expanded recalls for pistachio products due to possible salmonella contamination.
