Dr. Vanessa Epp

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for arson and other offences.

The Board unanimously found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his major mental illness, poor insight, and ongoing psychotic symptoms.

The Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital but expanded his supervised pass privileges from 24 to 72 hours.

A majority of the Board amended the disposition to allow the accused to smoke cigars off hospital grounds where permitted, while maintaining the prohibition against possessing any other incendiary devices, including lighters or matches.

Two members dissented, finding that he should only be permitted to smoke cigars under direct supervision.