Man who pleaded guilty in incel-inspired murder at Toronto spa to be sentenced today

A man who pleaded guilty to the incel-inspired murder of a Toronto massage parlour employee is expected to be sentenced today.

A man who pleaded guilty to the incel-inspired murder of a Toronto massage parlour employee is expected to be sentenced today.

The man, who cannot be identified because he was 17 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty last year to murder and attempted murder in the February 2020 stabbing that killed 24-year-old Ashley Noelle Arzaga and seriously injured a woman identified only by the initials J.C.

In June, Justice Sukhail Akhtar ruled that the stabbing amounted to an act of terrorism due to its links to so-called “incel” ideology, which stands for "involuntary celibate,” a fringe internet subculture dominated by men who blame women for their lack of sexual relations.

It's believed to be the first time in Canada that a court has made a finding of incel-motivated terrorist activity.

The defence is seeking to have the man sentenced under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which sets a limit of 10 years. In this case, that would be in addition to the three years he has already spent behind bars since the attack.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, want him sentenced as an adult, noting he was six months shy of turning 18 at the time and meticulously researched, planned and made choices surrounding the attack that reflected adult thoughts and actions. They also argue he has shown no remorse.

If he's sentenced as an adult, the man will receive an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for a certain number of years.