Re: John R. Barratt
ORB File No: 8867
Hearing held on: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Place of Hearing: North Bay Regional Health Centre – North Bay Site
Pursuant to: Section 672.47 (1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. C. Flanagan
Members: Dr. K. Hand Dr. S. Wiseman Ms. N. Nathanson Ms. R. Chopra
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Mr. John Barratt Counsel: Mr. W. Stickland
Person in charge of hospital: Representative: Mr. T. Trenker
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. D. McCaig
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated November 18, 2025)
Introduction
On August 18, 2025, John Barratt was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on two counts of aggravated assault contrary to the Criminal Code.
The Court referred the matter to the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) for a disposition.
On October 30, 2025, an initial hearing pursuant to s. 672.47(1) was held before the Board at the North Bay Regional Heath Centre (“NBRHC” or “the Hospital”).
Issues
- The issues for the Board to decide were whether Mr. Barratt is a significant threat to the safety of the public and, if so, the necessary and appropriate disposition for the coming year based on the factors set out in 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Initial Position of the Parties
The Hospital’s position was a detention order with terms as set out in pages 18-19 of the Hospital Report, October 10, 2025 (exhibit #5), allowing for privileges up to and including entering the community within the catchment area of NBRHC accompanied by staff or a person approved by the person in charge and travel passes, including overnight, within the Province of Ontario, accompanied by staff or a person approved by the person in charge.
Both counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General and counsel for Mr. Barratt joined the hospital in its position. Mr. Stickland conceded the issue of significant threat to the safety of the public.
The Panel made an order pursuant to s. 672.5(8)(b) of the Criminal Code assigning counsel, Mr. Stickland, to act for Mr. Barratt.
Index Offence
- The circumstances giving rise to the index offences as read into the record at the Court proceedings finding Mr. Barratt not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on August 18, 2025, are as follows:
John Barratt, resided at 844 2nd Avenue East, apartment number 1, in the City of Owen Sound. The first victim, Carl Hudson, resides at 844 2nd Avenue East, apartment 5, and victim number two, John Hudson, resides at apartment number 6. The accused and the two victims are known to each other, as they are friends with the accused’s mother.
On December 2nd, 2024, at approximately 4:55 a.m., Mr. Barratt attended the apartment of Carl Hudson and knocked on the door. Carl Hudson opened the door and was immediately attacked with a knife by Mr. Barratt. Mr. Barratt stabbed Mr. Hudson multiple times in the area of the shoulder and chest.
The accused followed Mr. Hudson inside of his apartment and continued the assault. While inside the apartment, Mr. Hudson struck the accused with a small baseball bat in an effort to defend himself, but the accused continued to stab Mr. Hudson. John Hudson heard loud noises coming from Carl Hudson’s apartment. John attended Carl’s apartment and attempted to intervene. John was stabbed multiple times in the area of his shoulder and back. The accused then fled from the apartment and returned to his own apartment. Police attended the apartment of the accused and confirmed that he was inside.
At approximately 8:20 a.m., the accused exited his apartment and was arrested by police. He was transported to the police station and lodged in cells. As a result of the incident, victim – Carl Hudson sustained approximately four to five stab wounds in his upper body, which required hospitalization. John Hudson sustained three to four stab wounds to his upper body and underwent emergency surgery due to the extent of his injuries.
Diagnoses
- Mr. Barratt’s current diagnoses are Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use Disorder.
Background
John R. Barratt, 24 years, was born in Collingwood. His parents separated when he was five years of age. At some point his father was granted full custody. At approximately age 18 he moved back to live with his mother in Owen Sound where he was living at the time of Index Offence. He left school in grade 11 and has no formal employment history. He has been involved in several short-term relationships. He has indicated that one was a marriage of brief duration.
He began using cannabis as a teenager on a daily basis, He has estimated using one gram daily, since about age 14 but there have been times when he consumed up to 5 grams daily. He began drinking approximately four large cans of beer daily. He indicates that he stopped drinking at age 19.
He has no previous criminal record.
His records indicate that that he has been experiencing symptoms of psychosis since his late teens. He was hospitalized three times between 2021 and 2024 exhibiting psychotic symptoms. In 2021, a hospitalization was prompted by an altercation with his mother when he set a blanket on fire believing it was covered with bugs. He thought family members were threatening his life, and someone was controlling his mind. He disclosed a suicide plan to jump off the roof of his apartment building.
Following his initial hospitalization in November 2021 at Brightshores Health Services in Owen Sound, Mr. Barratt was followed up by out-patient services and had regular contact with his treating psychiatrist, Dr. Ugwa, who managed his treatment from 2021 to 2024.
In 2023, he was hospitalized for the purpose of initiating clozapine. This was later discontinued as it caused clozapine-induced myocarditis. Records indicate a number of anti-psychotics had been tried but failed.
In August 2024 Mr. Barratt was brought to hospital by police and held on a Form 1. He thought his mother was a terrorist who intended to kill him. The records also reference regular use, though sometimes fluctuating amounts, of cannabis. In September 2024, he advised that he had been using 5 grams of cannabis daily.
At the time of the Index Offence, Mr. Barratt had discontinued his medication a few months prior, and he was using cannabis. He believed that he received messages about one of the victims from the television.
In her NCR assessment dated May 26, 2025, which was entered into the record as exhibit 6, Dr. Munro noted:
Based on his medical records and presentation during the assessment period, Mr. Barratt clearly meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition, criteria for Schizophrenia, multiple episodes, currently in partial remission. This severe psychiatric condition is marked by the presence of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and disorganized behaviour, all of which were observed during the assessment period. Mr. Barratt has, in the past, been prescribed numerous antipsychotic medications with limited benefit, and this condition is considered treatment-resistant at this time. Mr. Barratt also meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition, criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder, severe, in a controlled environment. This substance use has clearly exacerbated his underlying psychotic disorder. Mr. Barratt also has historical diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and potentially a mild Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Since his finding of NCR in August, Mr. Barratt’s insight into his illness has been poor. He denies experiencing perceptual disturbances but is regularly seen responding to unseen entities. He has not been a management concern during this time period. By contrast, when he was initially in hospital in March, there had been periods of significant agitation and on one occasion, he required chemical restraints and seclusion. There was some improvement in late April after a medication change.
A formal risk assessment has not yet been undertaken. The Hospital Report at page 17 sets out the following factors relevant to risk:
Factors Indicative of Significant Threat:
Mr. Barratt suffers from a serious and persistent mental disorder, that of Schizophrenia. The acute manifestations of his illness have included perceptual disturbances, delusional ideation, thought disorder, ideas of reference, grandiosity, paranoia, agitation and odd behaviours.
Mr. Barratt’s mental illness has been largely treatment resistant. A previous trial of clozapine in 2022 had to be discontinued after Mr. Barratt developed myocarditis.
Mr. Barratt has a history of medication non-adherence in the community. Reports indicate he had discontinued his medications “a few months” before the index offence.
Collateral information further suggests that Mr. Barratt’s mental health has decompensated quickly in the context of medication non-adherence in the past.
Insight into his illness and need for medication is poor.
Mr. Barratt has a history of substance use, primarily cannabis. Records suggest he was consuming cannabis on a regular basis in the time leading to the index offence.
The index offence was unprovoked, violent and involved a weapon resulting in the potential for serious physical harm to the intended victim, as well as the additional victim who attempted to intervene.
Mr. Barratt has a limited education and no history of gainful employment.
Mr. Barratt has a limited social support system.
Mr. Barratt was receiving outpatient psychiatric services, including regular assessments by an assigned case worker and a community psychiatrist, for several years leading up to the events of the index offense. This speaks to the need for a higher level of support and supervision than what is afforded through the civil mental health system.
Factors Contributing to Lower Risk
Mr. Barratt has some family support.
Mr. Barratt has not posed a significant management concern on the unit.
Mr. Barratt is currently adherent to medication while in this controlled environment.
Evidence at the hearing
Dr. Gillian Munro, Mr. Barratt’s treating psychiatrist, provided evidence that she had known Mr. Barratt since March 2025, having conducted the NCR assessment. Mr. Barratt is behaviorally settled-in to the Deer Lodge unit. He is engaged in activities and programming including baking and Mental Health 101. His illness is partially treated with two anti-psychotics. He continues to have some symptoms including responding to internal stimuli and making hand gestures. He has partial insight into his illness which is a treatment resistant form of schizophrenia. His mother had indicated he had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at some point in the past. Dr. Munro will seek an assessment on this.
Dr. Munro explained that the travel passes within the Province of Ontario were to allow for Mr. Barratt to visit his mother in Owen Sound and also to permit travel for possible treatment. She stated that it would be appropriate to permit travel passes for up to two days two times per year. Travel would be accompanied by Hospital staff or his mother, if she were to become designated as an approved person.
Regarding safeguards for the victims, Dr. Munro indicated that Mr. Barratt’s phone calls are monitored and that he has not tried to contact the victims. She stated that the mother no longer lives in the building where the two victims resided. She noted that the Panel might wish to consider a no-contact order with the victims.
Final Submissions
The Hospital and Mr. Stickland maintained their initial positions of a Detention Order with the terms set out in the report with the travel condition clarified as travel for up to two days twice per year within the Province of Ontario.
Counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General continued to support the Hospital’s position with the additional term of a non-contact order with the victims. She noted that the two victims are very fearful of the accused.
Analysis and Decision
Having heard and considered the evidence as well as the submissions from the parties, the Board finds that Mr. Barratt represents a significant threat to the safety of the public in the meaning of s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code.
In coming to our conclusion in this matter, the Board relies on the uncontroverted expert evidence of Dr. Munro in addition to the documentary evidence before us.
The Board has taken into account the factors set out in paragraph 20 of these Reasons. Mr. Barratt suffers from a major mental illness consisting of symptoms of psychosis and has committed serious violent offences while acutely mentally ill. He had consumed cannabis in the time leading up to the Index Offence. He has poor insight into his illness and his need for medication. He was under the care of outpatient psychiatric services prior to the Index Offence but had stopped taking his medication about two months prior. He decompensates quickly when not taking medication. Mr. Barratt’s illness is treatment refractory, and his medication regimen is yet to be optimized.
In all the circumstances, this Board finds the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order with the terms and conditions as set out in our Disposition. In reaching our decision, this Board has considered the safety of the public, Mr. Barratt’s mental condition, his reintegration into society, and his other needs.
DATED this 18th day of November 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Norine Nathanson
Legal Member
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board