Ontario Review Board
Re: Rick Duc Lao
ORB File No: 7072
Hearing held on: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Place of hearing: Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care 401 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein Members: Dr. R.D. Chandrasena Dr. B. Sheppard Ms. K. Tomaszewski Ms. C. Plyley
Parties Appearing: Accused: Rick D. Lao Counsel: Ms. K. Bhamra
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Zamprogna
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. D. Rows
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated April 11, 2025)
Introduction:
On December 14, 2016, Mr. Rick Duc Lao was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, on a charge of criminal harassment, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”).
Mr. Lao is subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”), dated March 26, 2024, which orders that he be detained at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, St. Joseph's Health Care London (“Southwest”).
On March 4, 2025, the Board convened a hearing at Southwest to conduct the annual review of the current Disposition.
Mr. Lao was present at the hearing and was represented by his counsel, Ms. K. Bhamra.
A Hospital Report, dated January 9, 2025 (the "Hospital Report"), was entered as Exhibit 1.
The issue at this hearing is whether Mr. Lao is a significant threat to public safety, as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code. If so, the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances must be determined, bearing in mind the factors enunciated in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
For the reasons set out below and based on the expert evidence and opinions before it, the Board concluded that Mr. Lao continues to present a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board ordered that the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances is a continuation of the existing Detention Order.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses:
- Schizophrenia Substance Use Disorder Antisocial Personality Disorder Traumatic Brain Injury
Index Offence:
- The circumstances giving rise to the Index Offence are extracted from last year’s Board Reasons, as follows:
“On August 17, 2016, at approximately 10:30 pm, Carlos and Mercedes Villanueva were in Ivy Park located at 331 Thames Street within the City of London with their children Daniel (14 years) and Layla (10 years). During this time, the children were on cell phones catching fictional Pokémon characters and walking approximately 5 meters ahead of their parents. Carlos and Mercedes attention was drawn to a male later identified as the accused that was quickly approaching from behind them. Carlos and Mercedes observed the male to be clenching his fists and walking purposely toward them. As a result, Carlos and Mercedes became