Ontario Review Board
Re: Avril Ocasiones-Hermida
ORB File No: 8287
Hearing held on: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Ms. M. Labrosse Members: Dr. B. Sheppard Dr. G. Eayrs Mr. M.D. Segal Mr. W. Apted
Parties Appearing: Accused: Avril Ocasiones-Hermida Counsel: Mr. M. Godoy
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. S. Rosales-Zelaya
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. C. Coughlan
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated November 5, 2025)
Introduction
On April 26, 2023, Ms. Avril Ocasiones-Hermida was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of assault, assault with a weapon, assault peace officer (x2) and failure to comply with a recognizance, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated August 28, 2024, which detains her within the General Forensic Unit of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH” or the “hospital”), with privileges up to and including to live in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge.
On September 23, 2025, the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) convened a hearing at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, hereinafter referred to as “CAMH” or “the hospital”, to conduct the annual review of Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida’s disposition, pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida attended the hearing and was represented by her counsel, Mr. M. Godoy. An updated Hospital Report dated August 26, 2025, was entered as Exhibit 1 for the hearing.
The issues for this hearing are whether Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, to determine the necessary and appropriate disposition in the circumstances.
Initial Positions of the Parties
The Board canvassed the parties’ preliminary positions for the hearing. The hospital recommended, as stated in its report, that Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public which can now be managed with a conditional discharge including a travel restriction provision and other conditions as outlined at page 25 of the Hospital Report.
Counsel for the Attorney General, Mr. Coughlan, stated that he agreed with the hospital recommendation that Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida still poses a significant threat to the safety of the public but that he was reserving his position on the appropriate disposition.
Counsel Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida, Mr. Godoy, indicated that his client was initially in agreement with the hospital recommendation.
At the closing of the hearing, all parties confirmed a joint position for the conditional discharge recommended by the hospital.
For the reasons set out below, the Board finds that Ms. Ocasiones-Hermida continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the risk can now be adequately managed with a conditional discharge, the details of which shall be set out in the Analysis and Conclusion part of these Reasons.