Karen Hand

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, underwent an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

While conceding he remained a significant threat to public safety, the accused requested an amendment to his detention order to permit cannabis use, arguing it did not impact his mental health.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that cannabis use risks psychotic relapse and violence in individuals with a history of substance-induced psychosis, the Board rejected the request.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat and ordered his continued detention under the existing strict conditions, including a prohibition on cannabis use.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for assaulting a peace officer and failing to comply with probation.

The accused sought to have community living privileges added to his detention order.

The hospital and the Attorney General opposed the request, citing a recent unprovoked assault on a co-patient and the accused's ongoing persecutory delusions.

The Board accepted the expert psychiatric evidence that adding community living privileges prematurely would harm the therapeutic relationship.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered his continued detention at the secure forensic unit without community living privileges.