Man found NCR for fatally stabbing Etobicoke Good Samaritan who offered him place to stay

The sister of Param Kaur stood at the podium in a downtown courtroom Monday, holding a file folder next to the side of her head so she wouldn’t have to see the man in the prisoner’s box who had just admitted to killing her sister nearly three years.

Felice Passarelli admitted to the unlawful killing of 58-year-old Param Kaur, who was known as Pam, before Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly found the 71-year-old not-criminally responsible (NCR) of second-degree murder, after a joint submission by Crown and defence.

The judge found that a major mental disorder, known as delusional disorder, rendered Passarelli unable to appreciate the moral wrongfulness of his actions when he fatally stabbed Kaur in her own home.

In a tearful impact statement. Surina Kaur cried as she described her sister Pam as a generous, unselfish, respectful and very caring woman.

The youngest of six siblings, Surina said Pam dedicated much of her life of her time to caring for the siblings’ aging parents.

“Her compassion, caring for others and generosity was unwavering. Her career in real estate was extremely demanding and headed upwards through a lot of long weary hours,” said Surina, who said Pam loved working and would never think of retiring.

Surina told court that since her sister’s death, she lives with constant anxiety and fear. “I block the doors at night with chairs and have removed all ‘tools’ from my kitchen that took my sister’s life,” she said.

According to an agreed statement of facts, on Nov. 10, 2023, around 6 a.m., Passarelli was in Kaur’s condominium on Zorra Street at the Queensway near Kipling Avenue when he stabbed her multiple times in the neck and on the side of her face, causing her death.

On or about Nov. 2, 2023, Passarelli met Kaur’s two sisters in the parking lot outside a nearby condominium on the Queensway and inquired about the building, advising them he was looking for a short-term rental. All three sisters owned a condo in the building. The two sisters told Passarelli they were renting the unit out and showed him the unit.

Unable to come to an agreement regarding the cost of rent and the duration of the rental, they gave Pam Kaur’s number to Passarelli because she was a realtor and could negotiate further.

Sometime between Nov. 2 and 5, 2023, Passarelli contacted Pam Kaur and during that time Kaur decided Passarelli would stay in her condo, as he looked for a place to stay.

The facts state that Passarelli slept on a Murphy bed near the front entrance of Kaur’s kitchen. The two were not romantically involved.

On Nov. 10th, Harpreet Kumar was working the overnight shift as a security guard at the condo building where Kaur lived when at approximately 6:05 a.m., Passarelli approached him in the lobby,

Passarelli, who was barefoot and bare-chested, was wearing a burgundy blazer and matching pants and had a small laceration on his forehead and blood on his hands, stomach, chest and pants. He was also carrying a small black bag.