After years of legal delays and diversionary tactics, a Toronto man has been found guilty of the vicious murders of his elderly parents and the attempted murder of his brother. Alpha Henry was convicted on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in a judge-alone trial before Superior Court Justice Joan Barrett.
A Savage and Planned Attack
Justice Barrett described the September 2022 attacks as "savage." The court heard that Henry, who was estranged from his family and homeless, brutally killed his parents in their Etobicoke apartment on Bergamot Avenue. His mother, Veronica Henry, 67, was slashed and stabbed 16 times, with ten wounds concentrated on her head and neck. His father, Colin Henry, 68, suffered 14 sharp-force injuries to his head and neck, five to his torso, and six defensive wounds on his hands.
Following the killings, Henry placed their bodies in the bathtub and poured gasoline over them. The judge found his motive was simple: anger. Barrett stated the defendant "knew there was a likelihood each would die, but persisted, thereby showing a deliberate disregard for the fatal consequences."
Lying in Wait for a Sibling
After murdering his parents, Henry's violence was not over. The court found he then lay in wait for his younger brother, Daniel Kwame Henry. Having partied with a sex worker and ordered pizza using his parents' money, Henry armed himself with a newly purchased butcher knife.
When Daniel, a flight attendant, entered the apartment, Alpha attacked, yelling "Die, b****." Daniel managed to wrestle the knife away and escape. In a cunning move to evade responsibility, Alpha Henry then called 911 and falsely claimed his brother was the killer. Justice Barrett dismissed this story, finding the attack on Daniel was "nothing short of a planned and deliberate attempt to kill" and that Daniel was seen as an obstacle to Henry enjoying his parents' resources.
The Path to a Guilty Verdict
The trial, which concluded in late 2024, saw Henry attempt to avoid a murder conviction. His defence lawyer, Jamie Kopman, argued for manslaughter, citing potential mental health issues and marijuana use. Henry also sought a psychiatric assessment to argue he was not criminally responsible.
Justice Barrett systematically rejected these arguments. She noted the deep, fatal nature of the wounds—including a perforated jugular vein and a stab to the aorta—contradicted claims they were "superficial." While acknowledging possible mental health struggles, the judge found no formal diagnosis or evidence of intoxication that would negate intent. After considering the psychiatric report, Henry abandoned the not criminally responsible defence.
With the guilty verdicts delivered, Alpha Henry now faces a mandatory life sentence. A sentencing hearing scheduled for March 2026 will determine his period of parole ineligibility, finally bringing a measure of accountability for the horrific crimes committed more than three years ago.
