A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in a case that has shocked the Ottawa community. Febrio De Zoysa, a Sri Lankan international student, admitted to killing six people, including four children, in a mass stabbing incident that occurred in Barrhaven last March.

De Zoysa's guilty plea was made last week in court. He was charged with the first-degree murder of Inuka Wickramasinghe, 7; Ashwini Wickramasinghe, 4; Ranaya Wickramasinghe, 3; and Gamini Amarakoon, 40, who was a close family friend and one of the family's tenants. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Darshani Ekanayake, 35, the children's mother, and her two-month-old baby, Kelly Wickramasinghe. He also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, the father and sole survivor of the attack.

Legal experts have noted that it is rare for defendants to plead guilty to first-degree murder, especially in cases with strong evidence. Mark Ertel, a criminal lawyer not involved in the case, stated, "The most common reaction to a first-degree murder charge, even when there's a strong Crown case, would be to defend the case unless some lesser plea was offered." He added that the overwhelming evidence likely influenced De Zoysa's decision to plead guilty.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. According to Jennifer Quaid, a professor at the University of Ottawa, it is unusual for a defendant to accept the most serious charge. She remarked, "In this case, it may just be that there really wasn't any other conclusion you could come to based on the evidence. The crimes are horrific — I think there's no other way to describe them."

De Zoysa had been living with the Wickramasinghe family and reportedly planned to kill everyone in the household due to financial difficulties and the impending expiration of his student visa. He expressed remorse, stating that the family had "been nothing but good to [him]."

Crown prosecutor Dallas Mack commented on De Zoysa's plea, saying it reflects his acceptance of guilt. He noted that had De Zoysa not pleaded guilty, the prosecution was prepared to present a strong case that would have likely led to convictions.

Defense attorney Ewan Lyttle acknowledged the gravity of De Zoysa's actions, stating, "He has done the unthinkable." Lyttle emphasized that De Zoysa's decision to plead guilty was a responsible choice that spared the victims and the community from the trauma of a trial. He also mentioned that while there were indications of mental illness, he would not pursue that as a defense.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, Justice Kevin Phillips commended both the Crown and defense for their professionalism throughout the case. He expressed gratitude for their conduct, highlighting the collaborative effort that led to the resolution of this tragic case without further distress to the victims' families.