Dr. J. Van Impe

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges of resisting a peace officer and theft.

The Ontario Review Board held a disposition hearing to review his fitness.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to his inability to communicate or participate in the court process.

A Detention Order to a high secure forensic program was issued with conditions, including prohibitions on weapons, incendiary devices, and substance use, to manage his risk.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine if the accused, previously found unfit to stand trial on assault and theft charges, was now fit.

Based on psychiatric evidence and the accused's demonstrated understanding of the legal process, the charges, and the potential consequences, the Board found the accused fit to stand trial.

The accused was ordered to return to court for a verdict while remaining detained at the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, is detained at a high-secure forensic hospital.

Based on a joint submission and psychiatric evidence indicating ongoing significant threat, the Board concluded that the current disposition and its terms continue to be appropriate to manage the risk.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and threatening to use a weapon.

The accused, who suffers from a severe traumatic brain injury, resides at a secure hospital and participates in vocational programs.

All parties agreed that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that the current disposition remains appropriate.

The Board added a weapons prohibition to the disposition, noting it would not impact his current vocational activities but would be relevant if he were transferred to a less secure facility or a general hospital.

The appellant, found not criminally responsible (NCRMD), appealed the Ontario Review Board's (ORB) decision to reject a joint submission for his transfer to a less secure facility.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed the appeal, finding no procedural unfairness in the ORB's handling of the joint submission and that the ORB's decision to deny the transfer was reasonable given the appellant's recent history of aggressive and self-harming behaviour and the receiving institution's objections.

The Crown charged the defendant with assault causing bodily harm, breach of probation (failure to keep the peace and be of good behaviour), and possession of prohibited incendiary devices.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and represented himself.

The Crown initially raised a not criminally responsible (NCR) defence but abandoned it after a psychiatric assessment concluded the defendant did not qualify.

However, after receiving additional material including prior court transcripts, the Crown renewed the NCR application.

The trial judge found the defendant NCR for the assault and related breach of probation based on the totality of evidence, despite the psychiatrist's opinion to the contrary.

The defendant was convicted of the lighter possession charge and sentenced to one day in jail, with disposition to be determined by the Ontario Review Board.