‘He could come for me again’: stabbing victim fears for her life if court removes hospital attacker’s high-risk designation

It has been four years since Trevor Farley nearly killed Candyce Szkwarek during a frenzied knife attack inside Seven Oaks General Hospital, but it still feels like it happened yesterday, the now-retired nursing manager told a judge Thursday.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of what he did to me,” Szkwarek said. “I struggle to fall asleep and often wake up reliving the attack.”

Two years ago, Farley was found not criminally responsible for the October 2021 attack on Szkwarek and the slayings of his parents Stuart Farley and Judy Swain in separate attacks earlier that same day.

The not criminally responsible finding by King’s Bench Justice Ken Champagne was accompanied by an order that Farley be designated a high-risk accused — a first in Manitoba since former prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government introduced legislation creating the designation in 2014.

As someone found not criminally responsible for his crimes, Farley’s case falls under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Code Review Board, which would normally be tasked with deciding whether he should remain in a secure psychiatric facility, or be subject to a conditional discharge or absolute discharge and release to the community.

As a high-risk accused, it is mandatory that Farley be held in a secure hospital setting. Only a superior court judge can revoke the designation and approve his release from hospital.

Farley is contesting the high-risk designation in a hearing that started Monday, arguing the review board should assume sole jurisdiction over his case. Closing arguments in the case will be heard Wednesday.

Szkwarek said she was shocked to learn Farley had applied to regain his nursing licence just three years after the attack.

“Does he truly feel remorse for his actions?” Szkwarek said. “I fear that if he ever experiences another psychotic episode he could come for me again.”

The slayings of Farley’s parents and the attack on Szkwarek occurred just hours after Farley walked out of the Mental Health Crisis Response Centre on Bannatyne Avenue, where he had been an involuntary patient.

Just days earlier, Farley had been working at Seven Oaks hospital and showed no signs of mental distress, Szkwarek said.

“My greatest fear is that if Trevor was able to hide his symptoms before, he could do it again,” she said. “I am deeply afraid for myself, my family and society if he is released.”

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca