Dr. Rebecca Douglas

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for manslaughter and designated a High-Risk Accused.

The Board accepted a joint submission that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered continued detention at the hospital.

Applying the test from Cousineau, the Board assessed whether there was a substantial likelihood the accused would use violence if discharged from the Board's jurisdiction.

Preferring the evidence of the independent psychiatric assessor over the treating psychiatrist, the Board found a substantial likelihood of violence remained due to the accused's ongoing psychotic symptoms, limited insight, and history of non-compliance.

The Board declined to refer the High-Risk Accused designation to the Superior Court for review.