Ontario Review Board
Re: Abdullahi J. Gure
ORB File No: 8754
Hearing held on: Friday, October 17, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Goldenberg
Members: Dr. M.V.A. Prakash Dr. M. Mamak Ms. M. den Haan Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Abdullahi J Gure Counsel: Mr. A. Alawi
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. W. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. M. Feindel
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated December 8, 2025)
Introduction
On March 27, 2025, Mr. Abdullahi Gure was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of utter threat, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. The Court did not make a Disposition, and Mr. Gure was remanded to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH”) pursuant to a Warrant of Committal.
On October 17, 2025, a panel of the Ontario Review Board (“Board” or “panel”) held a hearing at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH” or the “Hospital”) to make an initial Disposition pursuant to s. 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Gure was present at the hearing and was represented by his counsel, Mr. Alawi. Mr. Gure’s mother, father, and uncle were also present to support Mr. Gure.
Positions of the Parties
At the outset of the hearing, the parties were canvassed for their recommendations to the Board. On behalf of the Hospital, Ms. Warner stated that the treatment team was recommending a hybrid Detention Order Disposition which will detain Mr. Gure in the Secure Forensic Unit with discretion given to the person in charge to transfer Mr. Gure to a General Forensic Unit should his improved condition justify this transfer. She further submitted that the Disposition should include privileges up to and including to live in the community in approved accommodation.
On behalf of the Attorney General, Mr. Feindel submitted that the Attorney General was likely to support the Hospital’s position but would have questions about the recommendation for community living in approved accommodation.
Mr. Alawi submitted that his client agreed with the Hospital’s recommendation.
By the conclusion of the hearing, Mr. Feindel indicated his support for the Hospital’s position based on the evidence. The panel was therefore presented with a joint submission for its consideration.
For the reasons that follow, the Board independently finds that Mr. Gure represents a significant risk to the safety of the public. The Board also finds that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order Disposition with privileges up to and including to live in the community in approved accommodation as recommended by the Hospital. The Board agrees that the hybrid Disposition to detain Mr. Gure in the Secure Forensic Unit with discretion given to the person in charge to transfer Mr. Gure to a General Forensic Unit should his improved condition justify this transfer is appropriate in these particular circumstances.
Current Diagnoses
- Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder vs Substance Induced Psychosis
Cannabis Use Disorder
Stimulant use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorder
Index Offences
- The circumstances of the index offences are taken from the Hospital Report as follows:
“July 19, 2024 – Aggravated Assault x2
Arrest Report
According to the Arrest Report, Mr. Gure was charged with two counts of Attempted Murder and Utter Threat to Cause Death or Bodily Harm. It was noted that, on July 19, 2024, at 6:45pm Mr. Gure allegedly attended his father's (Mr. Jama Gure) Brampton residence to pick up his passport. At approximately 6:50pm, Mr. Gure was allegedly in the living room with his father and brothers (Mr. Younis Gure), became agitated and jumped on top of his father and stabbed him in the chest. During this altercation, Mr. Gure allegedly also stabbed his brother in the back. Subsequently, Mr. Gure was allegedly held down by Maslah, Mahad, Younis and Omar, at this time, the knife was taken away from him.
It is also alleged that then Mr. Gure continuously uttered "I will kill you" directing his threats to his father. Police arrived at 7:02 PM, Mr. Gure was arrested and transported to the 21 Division where he was held for an ARC bail.
Mr. Jama Gure suffered a laceration to his chest, he was transported to Sunnybrook hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-life threatening.
Mr. Younis Gure suffered a laceration to his upper back, he was transported to Brampton Civic hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-life threatening.”
Background
A Hospital Report dated October 3, 2025 was entered into evidence and contains details of Mr. Gure’s background, psychiatric history, and course in Hospital. Only highlights will be noted in these Reasons.
Mr. Gure is 31 years old and was born in Scarborough and raised in Toronto and Brampton. He is the second of four children. Mr. Gure’s parents separated when he was about 11 years old but maintained an amicable relationship. He is close to his stepmother and step-siblings from his father’s subsequent marriage. Mr. Gure is unmarried and has no children.
No problematic behaviours were reported from childhood or adolescence. Mr. Gure attended private Islamic schools until grade eight, at which time he transferred to the public school system. After graduation in 2013, he attended university to study civil engineering but was convicted for two counts of robbery (firearm) and use of imitation firearm during commission of an indictable offence during his first term. In April 2015 he was sentenced to two years in custody but was released on parole eight months into his sentence. He continued to attend university after his release as required by his parole. He used marijuana and alcohol and began to use hard drugs, leading to behavioural issues, lack of engagement with his family (with whom he was required to reside), and aggression.
Hospital records show that Mr. Gure was seen as an outpatient at CAMH in 2017 for mental health and substance use concerns.
Mr. Gure was charged with mischief under $5,000.00 in 2018 (suspended sentence and probation), then arrested a few months later following an assault on a university security guard. He was convicted and sentenced to house arrest. His sentence allowed him to attend university with a chaperone and immediately return home. With the assistance of Mr. Gure’s family as chaperones, he was able to graduate university in 2019.
After graduating from university, Mr. Gure worked in a factory and held temporary jobs before joining a construction company. Partially due to the pandemic, he left this job after six months and remained unemployed for approximately one year before obtaining short term jobs. In 2022, Mr. Gure moved into subsidized housing and stopped seeking employment. Prior to his arrest on the index offences, Mr. Gure was unemployed and supported by his parents and Ontario Works.
Mr. Gure himself reported that his first mental health concerns began following his release from custody on the robbery conviction. He coped with stress and uncertainty about his future by regularly using alcohol and marijuana. After his university graduation, he reported an improvement in his mood. He continued to use marijuana but abstained from alcohol for a period before returning to drinking in 2021.
Mr. Gure reported that he experienced paranoia after using crystal methamphetamine in 2023. He also reported hearing voices and took apart electronics because he believed that they were being used to track him. He was experiencing paranoia that his father was tracking him through drones and chip implants. Mr. Gure was first hospitalized in August 2023 in Barrie when his family brought him to hospital due to his paranoia that drones were following him and that a website was displaying his thoughts. He informed his sister that he intended to sacrifice her month-old twin babies. He required chemical restraints in the emergency room and tested positive for oxycodone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and cannabis although he denied using drugs beyond “occasional cannabis.” While abstinent from substances in hospital and taking antipsychotic medication, the paranoia subsided. After he was released from hospital, Mr. Gure declined follow-up, stopped the medication, and resumed using crystal methamphetamine, which resulted in re-emergence of symptoms. He used cannabis and crystal methamphetamine the night before the index offences.
Mr. Gure was brought to hospital by police for assessment in June 2024 due to this paranoia after his parents initiated a Form 2. He was deemed non-certifiable and was released the same day. Shortly before the index offences, Mr. Gure also began to believe that his brother (victim of the index offences) was conspiring with his father.
Evidence at the Hearing
Dr. Ali has been Mr. Gure’s attending psychiatrist since Mr. Gure was admitted to Hospital on May 27, 2025. She testified on behalf of the Hospital and advised that since the Hospital Report was prepared, there were some changes to Mr. Gure’s medications. Mr. Gure is capable to consent to treatment. When he was admitted, Mr. Gure consented to treatment with antipsychotic medication. In order to assess whether Mr. Gure was suffering from a primary psychotic illness, Mr. Gure’s risperidone was discontinued with his consent the week of the hearing. This was his only antipsychotic medication, and he is now only prescribed trazodone for sleep. No changes in Mr. Gure’s presentation have been noted since the discontinuation of the antipsychotic medication.
Mr. Gure has been cooperative with assessments, engages well with the treatment team, and no psychotic symptoms or violence have been seen since his admission to Hospital. The treatment team is questioning whether the psychotic symptoms that Mr. Gure experienced were substance-induced or a result of a primary psychotic disorder. Discontinuation of the antipsychotic medication will allow the team to assess if there is a recurrence of symptoms absent substance use. Mr. Gure has insight into his illness and understands that it is possible that his symptoms will reoccur, in which case he will restart antipsychotic medication. He did not request to discontinue medication. Rather, the decision to do so was a result of discussion among the treatment team, Mr. Gure, and his family. The medication would not have been discontinued if Mr. Gure was experiencing any psychotic symptoms.
Dr. Ali testified that after Mr. Gure receives his initial Disposition, he will be eligible for passes. He will likely be moved to a General Forensic unit if there is no reoccurrence of symptoms and his use of passes is appropriate.
Mr. Gure was residing in a subsidized apartment at the time of the index offences, and it is still available to him. Dr. Ali has discussed with Mr. Gure that the apartment may not be appropriate accommodation when he is ready for discharge into the community since he may require support at that time.
Mr. Gure’s family is very involved, and he has received lots of visits from his mother, father, sister brother, uncle, and cousin. He also has regular phone contact with his family. Members of the treatment team, including the social worker and resident physician, have met with the family. There is no family history of mental illness.
In response to questions from counsel for the Attorney General, Dr. Ali testified that the positive impression management noted at page 27 of the Ontario Shores Assessment Report is not particularly concerning. Many patients exhibit positive impression management, but it is not always to be deliberately deceitful or due to personality traits. Dr. Ali stated that she has had multiple discussions with Mr. Gure about the index offences and his insight, and she does not have concerns.
Dr. Ali noted that after some brief assessments, Mr. Gure showed some lower scores on cognitive testing. She stated that a full battery of testing will be done during the treatment year, but she thinks it is unlikely that there will be any significantly low scores.
Mr. Gure will attend substance use group programming as the Hospital is not currently able to staff 1:1 treatment. Dr. Ali ultimately recommends 1:1 substance counselling for Mr. Gure when the Hospital has capacity to provide it. Mr. Gure has insight into the impact of substance use on the index offences, but he remains vulnerable to temptation to use substances.
When unwell, Mr. Gure primarily exhibited delusions, paranoia, bizarre behaviour, and auditory hallucinations. The discontinuation of the antipsychotic medication will assist in ruling out a primary delusional disorder.
In response to questions from counsel for Mr. Gure, Dr. Ali testified that a functional assessment will be required to determine Mr. Gure’s housing and support needs. Many patients require supportive housing when transitioning to community living, although sometimes it is possible for patients to live independently with some supports.
In response to questions from the panel, Dr. Ali testified that she expects that if Mr. Gure has a primary psychotic illness, symptoms will begin to appear quite quickly, within a few weeks of discontinuing medication. Mr. Gure will progress from the Forensic Assessment Unit to a General Forensic Unit if he continues to present well in appropriately one month without medication. If any aggressive behaviour occurs, Mr. Gure will be moved to a Secure Forensic Unit. When Mr. Gure is transferred out of the Forensic Assessment Unit, he will have a new psychiatrist and staff.
At the time of the hearing, Mr. Gure does not have any passes as he is subject to a Warrant of Committal. He requires a Disposition from the Board to be eligible for passes. Mr. Gure’s family is approved to visit him, but Dr. Ali is unsure if the social worker has spoken with the family yet about the process to become Approved Persons.
No further evidence was called.
In closing submissions, the Hospital noted that Mr. Gure has done well since he arrived at the Hospital and is to be commended for early positive engagement with the treatment team. The Hospital is recommending a hybrid Disposition because diagnostic clarity is still required. Once the Hospital has further information, they will be better able to determine the appropriate unit for Mr. Gure. Ms. Warner assured the panel that the Hospital works actively and consistently to move patients to a less restrictive unit as soon as possible. They will continue to engage with Mr. Gure’s family and assist them with the process to becoming Approved Persons.
Counsel for the Attorney General submitted that Mr. Gure has done well. It is currently unclear if Mr. Gure’s symptoms were a result of excessive substance use or if Mr. Gure is very vulnerable to any use of substances at all. He stated that after hearing Dr. Ali’s evidence, he agrees with the Hospital’s recommendation that community living be included in the Disposition.
Counsel for Mr. Gure maintained his initial position and reiterated that Mr. Gure has been responsive to all staff efforts.
Analysis and Conclusions
The panel accepts without reservation the evidence of Dr. Ali and the evidence in the Hospital Report that a Detention Order is required for public safety.
Mr. Gure’s underlying diagnosis remains uncertain at this time, as it is unclear if there is a risk that he will experience a recurrence of psychosis while abstaining from substance use. The Hospital has recently discontinued Mr. Gure’s antipsychotic medication, and his progress over the next weeks will assist them in clarifying his diagnosis. The panel accepts that in this case, because Mr. Gure’s diagnostic profile has not yet been clarified, a hybrid Disposition is appropriate with discretion given to the person in charge to transfer Mr. Gure to a General Forensic Unit should his improved condition justify this transfer.
In reaching our Disposition, the Board has taken into consideration public safety, Mr. Gure’s mental condition and his other needs, and Mr. Gure’s potential return to the community.
The Alternate Chair thanked Mr. Gure’s family for their attendance and noted to Mr. Gure that he is very lucky, as it is rare for the Board to see so much family support for a patient.
DATED this 8^th^ day of December 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. M. den Haan
Legal Member
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board