R.D Chandrasena

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for Rick Duc Lao, who was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment.

Mr. Lao suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted expert evidence that Mr. Lao lacks insight into his condition, continues to use substances that exacerbate his psychosis, and poses a moderate to high risk of violence.

The Board concluded that Mr. Lao remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his detention order at the forensic hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to make an initial disposition for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including break and enter and assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, refused medication and exhibited persistent grandiose and persecutory delusions.

Applying the test for fitness to stand trial, the Board found the accused remained unfit as he could not understand the proceedings or meaningfully communicate with counsel.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with conditions, including a no-contact provision, prioritizing public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an accused found unfit to stand trial on historical sexual offences.

The accused suffers from a major neurocognitive disorder (likely Fahr's Disease) with severe cognitive impairment and behavioural disturbances.

Applying the fitness test from R. v. Bharwani, the Board found the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot understand the proceedings or communicate with counsel.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge, requiring the accused to reside in a supervised long-term care facility.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault.

Despite recent incidents of substance use and a suicide attempt, the accused's mental condition had stabilized with long-acting injectable antipsychotics and intensive community support.

The Board accepted expert psychiatric evidence that the accused's risk of violence to the public was low, and that his recent struggles primarily posed a risk of self-harm.

Concluding that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to the safety of the public, the Board granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for attempt to commit murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had made significant progress in the community and maintained abstinence.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition with expanded community privileges, including reduced reporting requirements and the removal of abstain and no-contact clauses.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assaulting a peace officer and mischief.

The accused suffers from treatment refractory schizoaffective disorder, substance use disorder, and intellectual development disorder.

The Board accepted the uncontested psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to experience psychotic symptoms, lacks insight, and requires 24/7 supervision.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered the continuation of his detention disposition, with expanded geographic boundaries for passes to facilitate placement on a waitlist for supportive housing.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of assault and uttering threats.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder.

Based on the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the attending psychiatrist, the Board found the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention disposition and extended the time for the next review hearing to 24 months.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition.

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and sexual interference.

Based on a joint submission and expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to active symptoms of schizophrenia and the risk of medication non-adherence.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Disposition with expanded pass privileges to facilitate the accused's eventual transition to a group home.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had a successful year in the community with no hospital admissions or cannabis use, though she consumed alcohol.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety but granted a conditional discharge.

Accepting the attending psychiatrist's evidence, the Board declined to impose an alcohol abstain clause or driving restriction, finding no connection between her alcohol use and her risk to the public.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and a restriction of liberty (ROL) review for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences including threatening death.

The accused had absconded from the hospital and used methamphetamine, leading to a significant restriction of his liberty upon return.

The Board found the ROL was necessary and appropriate.

Applying the Winko test, the Board concluded the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and risk of absconding.

The Board ordered a continued detention disposition, incorporating recommendations from a Gladue Report for culturally appropriate residential treatment programming.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for violent offences including assault with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, had recently experienced a brief readmission to hospital due to escalating symptoms and continues to lack insight into his illness and the index offences.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his detention order at the forensic mental health facility.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for manslaughter.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was subject to a detention order at a forensic mental health centre.

Based on a joint submission and uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to experience positive symptoms of his illness and remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with the addition of indirectly supervised community passes to assist with his reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The accused has been living in the community and has made significant progress, including medication adherence, abstinence from substances, and participation in structured activities.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties and the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety but can be safely managed in the community.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge.

The accused was previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges including assault and uttering threats.

Following a period of detention and treatment at a forensic hospital, the Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing.

Based on expert psychiatric evidence and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused's schizophrenia symptoms were largely contained with medication and that he was now fit to stand trial.

The Board ordered that the accused be returned to court and issued a Keep Fit Order, detaining him at the hospital to ensure medication compliance and maintain his fitness pending trial.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple offences including robbery.

The accused sought an amendment to his disposition to allow him to reside in Lambton County.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to treatment-refractory schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and a history of absconding.

The Board dismissed the request to add Lambton County to the approved accommodations, finding it lacked appropriate supervised group homes and would increase the risk to public safety.

The existing Detention Order was continued.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review of the accused's disposition under s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.

The accused, who was previously found NCR for assault and threatening bodily harm, had a positive year living in a supervised group home.

The treatment team recommended continuing the detention order with expanded privileges, including indirectly supervised 72-hour passes, to facilitate community integration.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and that the continued detention order is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges including harassment and assault.

Based on the expert evidence of the treating psychiatrist and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused's schizophrenia and delusional beliefs were sufficiently managed by medication to render him fit to stand trial.

The Board ordered the accused returned to court and issued a Keep Fit Order to ensure his continued medication adherence and fitness pending trial.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and a restriction of liberty review for an accused found not criminally responsible for robbery and uttering threats.

The accused had absconded from the hospital, used substances, and missed his medication injection, resulting in a significant restriction of his liberty upon his return.

The Board found the restriction of liberty was necessary and appropriate.

The Board also concluded that the accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention disposition with an increase in 7-day passes to facilitate community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for various violent offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had shown progress with a new medication regimen but continued to experience hallucinations and lacked full insight into his illness.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded the accused remained a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with joint-submission amendments, removing the requirement for supervised accommodation and granting accompanied community passes.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had voluntarily returned to the hospital multiple times due to cannabis use, which exacerbates his psychotic symptoms.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order, finding it necessary to manage his risk and support his reintegration.