Man pleads guilty in subway death of senior
73- year- old pushed off platform at Bloor- Yonge station in 2018 incident
A man has taken responsibility for a shocking crime at the busiest subway station in the TTC’s subway network.
On Monday, John Reszetnik pleaded guilty to second- degree murder for pushing a stranger into the path of a subway train hurtling into Toronto’s BloorYonge station, which served more than 200,000 passengers on an average week day before the pandemic.
On June 18, 2018, at 10: 07 a. m., the then 53- year- old entered the Line 2 platform of BloorYonge subway station. After about five minutes, “he focused his attention towards 73- yearold Yosuke Hayahara who was also on the platform,” Crown attorney Sean Doyle said, reading from an agreed statement of facts.
Seven minutes later, Reszetnik “forcefully pushed Hayahara in front of the subway as it travelled into the station at approximately 50 kilometres an hour. Hayahara was pulled under the subway and trapped between the wall and track. He died later that day of blunt impact chest trauma.”
Additional facts will be “supplemented during the sentencing phase,” Doyle said during the brief proceeding that took place via Zoom. The sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 28.
No explanation was given for Reszetnik’s actions. A source with knowledge of the investigation told the Star the police theory is Reszetnik was being evicted by his landlord, who resembles Hayahara, and he thought they were the same person.
Reszetnik participated in the proceedings from the video room at the Toronto South Detention Centre.
Superior Court Justice John McMahon said that based on what Reszetnik agreed to he found him guilty of second- degree murder, which carries an automatic sentence of life in prison. Still to be determined is his parole eligibility period which can be between 10 and 25 years, although McMahon said it’s likely to be fixed between 10 and 18 years.
Defence lawyer Elizabeth Gaudet said the sentencing hearing will take some time and McMahon agreed, adding it will likely address some of Reszetnik’s “health challenges.”
In the past there were “concerns” over his fitness to stand trial. He was assessed by a psychiatrist in December and a report filed that he was fit, court heard.
Last week, Reszetnik surprised the court when he decided he needed more time to consider his guilty plea. A trial date set for next week has been vacated. Victim impact statements will be heard at the sentencing hearing.
According to an online obituary, Yosuke ( Yoshi) Hayahara was a “healthy and active” man who lived in the moment.
“The smallest things brought him the greatest happiness; enjoying a cup of coffee with good company, extra time playing tennis and golf, lending a helping hand, cooking and trying new recipes, and big hugs from the little people in his life ( his four grandchildren).”
On a different website, Hayahara was praised by his tennis partners in Don Mills as a “gentleman” and “the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”