Turcotte found not criminally responsible for killing his two children

Guy Turcotte testified a his trial for murdering his young children in St-Jerome, Que. on May 10, 2011, in this courtroom sketch. The lawyer for a former Quebec cardiologist charged with killing his two young children says he was clearly sick at the time of their deaths, Monday June 20, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Montreal La Presse, ArchGrap - Andre Rivest

ST. JEROME - Former Quebec cardiologist Guy Turcotte has been found not criminally responsible for killing his two children, 5-year-old Olivier and 3-year-old Anne-Sophie.

The jury reached a verdict Tuesday after five full days of deliberations. During the trial, Turcotte admitted to killing the children but denied intent.

He said he only remembered bits and pieces of the evening; experts testifying on his behalf said he snapped after learning his wife was cheating on him.

There were four possible outcomes: first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter or not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder. Acquittal was not an option.

The verdict is not acquittal, and means he will be in psychiatric care for time to be determined.

"I didn't expect this verdict"

Isabelle Gaston, Turcotte's wife and the mother of the two slain chidren, held back tears as she spoke with reporters outside the courtroom.

"I'm in shock," she said in French. "I prepared myself for every verdict… But I didn't expect this verdict, not at all."

Gaston said she is "disappointed for Olivier and Anne-Sophie and for all children that could be in danger."

"I hope they are well," she said. "I hope there is something after life so I can find them... I hope they are happy."

Gaston said society can still be proud of its justice system -- "even with this verdict" -- as she praised the work of police and prosecutors.

"Even if it had been first-degree murder I could not have been satisfied because it would not have brought back my children in this life," she said.

At two points during a scrum with reporters outside the courtoom, she warned against further violence.

Turcotte has become a household name in Quebec and the jury's decision has the potential to provoke a public backlash.

Patrick Gaston, uncle of the victims, told reporters last week he will never forget his nephew and niece.

"Anne-Sophie and Olivier had the right to live," he said. "I miss them every day. I can only express a little bit of the pain my sister, me and my family feel. The void is incredible. The trial is over and hopefully we'll be able to move onto something else."