Ottawa·BreakingThe alleged killer in a mass stabbing in Ottawa last year — described by the mayor as one of the most shocking acts of violence in the capital’s history — is expected to plead guilty Thursday.Febrio De Zoysa charged with 6 counts of 1st-degree murder, 1 attempted murderKristy Nease · CBC News · Posted: Nov 06, 2025 9:24 AM EST | Last Updated: 4 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesA court sketch from March 2024 of Febrio De Zoysa. (Lauren Foster-MacLeod)The alleged killer in a mass stabbing in Ottawa last year — described by the mayor as one of the most shocking acts of violence in the capital’s history — is expected to plead guilty Thursday.On March 6, 2024, two 911 calls were made from the southwest suburb of Barrhaven.At a home on Berrigan Drive, first responders found six people dead, one injured and a 19-year-old man who’d been living in the basement.The victims were:Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, the father of the family and the only one to survive.Darshani Ekanayake, his 35-year-old wife.Kelly Wickramasinghe, their two-month-old daughter and only child born in Canada.Ranaya Wickramasinghe, their three-year-old daughter.Ashwini Wickramasinghe, their four-year-old daughter.Inuka Wickramasinghe, their seven-year-old son.Gamini Amarakoon, 40, a close family friend and one of the family’s two tenants.Febrio De Zoysa, the family’s other tenant, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder the following day.The Wickramasinghe family at daughter Ranaya’s third birthday party the same month as the killings. From left: father Dhanushka Wickramasinghe; two-month-old daughter Kelly; daughters Ashwini, 4, and Ranaya, 3; son Inuka, 7; and mother Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, 35. (Facebook)The shocking incident generated headlines across Canada and gripped Sri Lankan media. The Wickramasinghes were newcomers to Canada from Sri Lanka (except for the baby) and so was Amarakoon, who was working to support his family back home.De Zoysa, who was then an international student at Algonquin College, is a Sri Lankan national. More to come.ABOUT THE AUTHORCBC Ottawa senior writer Kristy Nease has covered news in the capital for 16 years, and previously worked at the Ottawa Citizen. She has handled topics including intimate partner violence, climate and health care, and is currently focused on the courts and judicial affairs for all platforms. Get in touch: kristy.nease@cbc.ca, or 613-288-6435. Worried? Try kristyneasecbc@proton.me instead.Selected stories.Follow her on X.
Accused in 2024 Ottawa mass killing expected to plead guilty
