Re: Slim Tagoug
ORB File No: 8257
Hearing held on: Monday, March 31, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. L. Maunder
Members: Dr. S. Hucker
Dr. L. Lightfoot
Mr. D. D’Intino
Ms. R. Chopra
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Slim Tagoug
Counsel: Ms. C. Currie
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. M. Feindel
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated May 6, 2025)
Introduction
On March 10, 2023, Mr. Tagoug was found not criminally responsible on one count of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada (the Code).
He is currently subject to an Ontario Review Board disposition dated April 5, 2024, detaining him on the Forensic Program of the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (“CAMH” or “hospital”). His current privileges include those up to and including to enter the Greater Toronto Area, indirectly supervised.
On March 31, 2025, the Board convened a hearing in person at CAMH to conduct an annual review of his current disposition and to determine whether it was both necessary and appropriate, and also the least onerous and least restrictive means to protect the public in the circumstances.
The parties presented a joint submission: that the necessary and appropriate, least onerous and least restrictive disposition was the continuation of the existing Detention Order, with privileges up to and including community living in accommodation approved of by the Person in Charge, and a reporting frequency of not less than once per week.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses:
- Schizoaffective Disorder; Possible Antisocial Personality Disorder; Cannabis Use Disorder.
Index Offences:
- The details of the index offences are extracted from the Hospital Report, which are as follows:
“The offense relates to December 2nd of 2021 at about 6:45 p.m. The accused and the victim [J,-B.] were both on the northbound platform of the Wellesley subway station in the City of Toronto and they were strangers to each other at the time.
The victim noticed that the accused’s jacket had the number 1967 printed on it and wanted to
explain the significance of that year and how Canada became its own country. She tapped the accused’s shoulder to elicit a conversation and the accused immediately turned around and became extremely confrontational with her. He pushed her to the ground and as she attempted to get back up, he kicked her across the head, face, and body multiple times.
Several witnesses intervened, contacted Police, and assisted the victim. The accused fled the area on a northbound train. The victim was transported to St. Michael’s hospital trauma room where she underwent several CT scans based on concerns for internal brain bleed. She was particularly concerned over this given that she had suffered such an injury in the past.
The injuries suffered by the victim were swelling to the right side of the forehead, swelling and bruising to the right side of the face including the temple area, swelling and bruising to the right-side top of the head near the crown, cut to the right earlobe. She was also hospitalized for four days for a subdural hematoma that she suffered as a result of the attack.”
Evidence at the Hearing:
The Board had available to it the documents forming the Record, the Exhibits (the hospital report and a victim impact statement), and oral evidence from Dr. O’Sullivan.
Dr. O’Sullivan testified that he assumed care of Mr. Tagoug in early December of 2024. Since the Hospital Report was authored, Mr. Tagoug’s mental state has remained stable and there have been no changes to his treatment plan.
In the past year, Mr. Tagoug transitioned from a monthly injection of the antipsychotic Paliperidone to one administered every three months. He has tolerated this well. He has also remained abstinent from substances and collaborated well with the treatment team.
Dr. O’Sullivan also noted that Mr. Tagoug is at a level 8 privilege level, with the top level being 9. Mr. Tagoug has also completed a Culinary Arts program at George Brown College, as well as a whole host of rehabilitative programs through the Hospital. Mr. Tagoug has also recently reconnected with his brothers who reside in Ottawa and has had some visits with them.
In response to questions from the Attorney General, Dr. O’Sullivan testified that Mr. Tagoug is currently incapable of consenting to treatment and will require supportive housing when discharged to the community. While he remains externally motivated in his recovery, the treatment team is working on developing his internal motivation.
Dr. O’Sullivan agreed with Ms. Currie’s suggestion that Mr. Tagoug has had a good year and has responded well to a change in his medication to a longer-lasting injectable, with no changes to his mental state.
In response to Panel questions, Dr. O’Sullivan testified that Mr. Tagoug presents as a low-moderate risk of violent offending while subject to a Detention Order with community living. Absent the DO, his risk level would increase to moderate-high. A Conditional Discharge is not being considered at this time because of an absence of appropriate housing for Mr. Tagoug.
Dr. O’Sullivan further testified that Mr. Tagoug’s views on his mental illness are not internally consistent. While he is able to acknowledge that his medication eliminates his auditory hallucinations, he denies having a mental illness. He is compliant with medication, however.
Lastly, Dr. O’Sullivan testified that provisions of the civil Mental Health Act would be insufficient to return Mr. Tagoug to the Hospital should he experience decompensation in his mental status under a Conditional Discharge disposition. He also testified that it was crucial to allow the Hospital to approve Mr. Tagoug’s living arrangements, which the Hospital feels is crucial to managing his risk while in the community.
Analysis and Conclusions
Having heard and considered the entirety of the evidence as well as the submissions from the parties, the Panel accepts the joint submission: that the necessary and appropriate, least onerous and least restrictive disposition was the continuation of the existing Detention Order, with privileges up to and including community living in accommodation approved of by the Person in Charge, and a reporting frequency of not less than once per week.
Mr. Tagoug’s diagnoses include Schizoaffective Disorder, possible Antisocial Personality Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder. His index offences involved serious violence which caused significant harm to the victim and as evidenced by her Victim Impact Statement, continues to affect her.
At present, his insight remains limited, he remains externally motivated, and he has not secured an appropriate community living placement that can provide the support he needs to mitigate his risk while in the community.
For those reasons, the Panel agrees with the joint submission of the parties.
DATED this 6th day of May, 2025 at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. D. D’Intino
Legal Member
__________________
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board