He also noted that an argument that had immediately preceded the killing over piping occurred during a psychotic episode rather than prompting the killings, a theory advanced by The Crown.

"There is a substantial body of credible, reliable evidence demonstrating that Abernethy had experienced or was in the process of experiencing a psychotic break," he added. "There was a compatible, respectful and close working relationship with both men."

He further trusted evidence seen as part of Abernethy's girlfriend's text messages from that day.

"She was petrified and ruminated all day, believing Mr. Abernethy was so far gone that he might physically harm or even kill himself," the document added.

Both Wilson and Jones were described as “good guys” by longtime foreman Studd in testimony at his trial.

Jones mentored Abernethy and took him under his wing, Studd said.

Office manager Judy Cox said Jones had a soft spot for Abernethy. The accused often appeared disheveled and hungover, with bloodshot eyes, she said.

On the morning of Aug. 30, 2011, Abernethy seemed a little “off”, his co-workers said, according to an agreed statement of facts.

"I accept (Ted) Studd's evidence that Abernethy was "off"…"he looked like hell", physically "terrible"," Justice Minden added in his findings.

Mark Gilmour, another employee, recalled an odd exchange between Jones and Abernethy that morning. Out of nowhere Abernethy announced: “Don’t worry Bill, I got all the numbers.” He was holding a business card with handwritten numbers on the back and would not let Jones see the card. It was like he was speaking “gibberish", Mark Gilmour said.

After the bodies of Wilson and Jones were found and Cox had called 911, she saw Abernethy leaning over Wilson’s body. He appeared to be comforting or consoling him, Cox said. She thought she saw him say: “You’ll be okay.”

Justice Minden went on to explain that after the killing, Abernethy did not make any effort to hide the incident, rejecting The Crown's "reality-based motive" theory that Abernethy had killed Wilson because he had just witnessed Jones' killing.

"Abernethy made no attempt to take flight, hide the crowbar, destroy his blood-soaked jacket or otherwise disturb the crime scene," he wrote. "He remained at the scene. He continued to wear or carry his bloody jacket…he left the crowbar in plain view, not far from where he had used it."

Abernethy will, at some future date, appear before the Ontario Review Board. That organization annually reviews the status of every person who has been found to be not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial for criminal offences on account of a mental disorder.

Outside the courtroom, family members of the victims did not want to speak other than to say they were disappointed in the NCR verdict.

"He's devastated our lives," added Marg Jones, another family member.

"He took two lives and he has a violent past," said one family member, who chose not to give his name.

— With files from Alyshah Hasham of the Toronto Star and Jeremy Grimaldi