Dr. Giovana De Amorim Levin

The accused, Chiduben Anthony Okeke, was charged with Aggravated Assault and Failing to Comply with a Recognizance.

Both the Crown and Defence jointly sought a finding of Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) under sections 16 and 672.34 of the Criminal Code.

Two forensic psychiatrists provided reports concluding that the accused suffered from schizophrenia with paranoid and somatic delusions and auditory hallucinations at the time of the offence, rendering him incapable of knowing the wrongfulness of his actions.

The court accepted the joint recommendation, finding the accused NCR for both charges, and issued a DNA order.

The judgment also highlighted the severe impact on the victim, PC Andrew Varao, and raised concerns about the lack of adequate supervision for mentally ill individuals released on bail.

The accused was convicted of impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm following a head-on collision in Ajax on September 19, 2017.

The victims, an elderly couple, sustained significant injuries including broken hands and a fractured vertebra.

The accused's blood alcohol concentration was between 147-192 mgs per 100 mls of blood.

The court imposed a 9-month custodial sentence followed by 15 months probation and a 3-year driving prohibition, considering the serious injuries to the victims, the accused's first-offender status with mild intellectual disability, and the collateral consequences of COVID-19 pandemic conditions in custody.