B.C. Man Guilty Of Murder In Attack On His Children

VANCOUVER, B.C. - A man who beat his children with an ax, killing his daughter and leaving his son brain-damaged, was convicted yesterday of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

A British Columbia Supreme Court jury deliberated for three days before bringing in the verdict against Michel Caouette, 43, of North Vancouver.

Justice Allan Thackray imposed the automatic life sentence for first-degree murder, with no parole eligibility for 25 years, and added a concurrent 25-year sentence for attempted murder.

Prosecutors had argued that Caouette planned to kill his children to get back at his estranged wife for leaving him for another man.

The defense argued Caouette was not criminally responsible for his actions because of a temporary mental disorder.

Caouette ambushed his children while they slept in his apartment July 13, 1995.

He hit his 11-year-old daughter, Danielle, and his son, Josh, now 15, in their heads with the blunt end of an ax he had bought six days earlier.

Danielle died a week later. Josh was in a coma for several months, and now is partially paralyzed and must use a wheelchair.