Re: Nathaniel Gooding
ORB File No: 8007
Hearing held on: Wednesday, April 30, 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: Mr. B. Garrow
Members: Dr. P.E. Cook Dr. H. Moulden Ms. C. Finley Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Nathaniel Gooding Counsel: Mr. P. Sokka
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. S. Rosales-Zelaya
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. K. Kirec
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 10, 2025)
Introduction
On November 19, 2021, Nathaniel Gooding was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCR) on a charge of aggravated assault, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. He is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (ORB/the Board), dated May 22, 2024, detaining him at the Forensic Service of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH/the hospital) with discretionary privileges up to and including the ability to reside in the community in approved accommodations.
On April 30, 2025, the Board convened to conduct the annual review of Mr. Gooding’s disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Gooding was present with his counsel, Mr. Sokka. Mr. Gooding’s mother, Cecile Gooding, also was present.
At the outset of the proceedings, all parties were canvassed as to their positions on the two issues to be determined by the Board: whether Mr. Goding continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, the necessary and appropriate disposition having regard to the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Ms. Rosales-Zelaya, on behalf of the hospital, submitted that Mr. Gooding continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order. Ms. Kirec, on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General, and Mr. Sokka both concurred in the hospital’s positions. Thus, a joint recommendation was before the Board.
Findings
- For the reasons that follow, the Board finds that Mr. Gooding continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition is a detention order with the same terms and conditions.
The Evidence
- The evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report, dated April 1, 2025 (ex. 1), and the viva voce evidence of Dr. Jaiswal, Mr. Gooding’s treating psychiatrist.
The Index Offence
- A summary of the index offence on November 22, 2020 is taken from the Hospital Report, at pp.8-9:
“In the days preceding the stabbing, Ms. Gooding had flu-like symptoms and self-isolated in her room. On the day, she had asked him [Mr. Gooding] to get some groceries. He told her that the shelves in the grocery store were empty. Then during the night, he stormed into her room while she was in lying in bed. He was wearing a face mask and was holding a knife. He stated, “Mom, God wants you dead because you’re sick”. He tackled her to the floor and stabbed her in the upper back. As she defended herself, he stated, “You’re sick, you need to go to sleep”, as if he was talking to a young child. She tried to “play dead”. He tried to suffocate her with a blanket, and with a plastic bag. He put his fingers into her mouth and she was able to bite him. She told him that she loved him and that he was destined to greatness. Soon after, he “realized what he had done”. He repeated “Oh my God” and “I need to go.” She asked him to call 911 and place the phone by her ear, which he eventually did. He tried to pick her up and place her in her bed at her request, so she could “die in dignity”. Before he left, he reportedly told her “If you get out of this, I need you to do better and I need you to leave me alone”.
- Ms. Gooding was found by police face down in her bedroom, with a stab wound in her upper back and cuts to her right hand and eyebrow. A knife was found under her when she was moved. She was transported to hospital. Blood was observed throughout the house. Mr. Gooding arrived home in his mother’s vehicle a few hours later, with blood on his clothing and cuts to his hands.
Background Information
The Hospital Report contains detailed information about Mr. Gooding’s background and psychiatric history and need not be reviewed here beyond the following material points. Mr. Gooding is a 28-year-old man who grew up residing with his mother, half-sister and his maternal grandparents in Mississauga. After graduating from high school, he attended Sheridan College for engineering for one year.
Mr. Gooding reported that he started smoking cannabis at sixteen, using on a daily basis. He also drank a significant amount of alcohol during the months leading up to the index offence.
Mr. Gooding’s first psychiatric incident was in October 2020. He attended Brampton Civic Hospital with complaints of paranoia and anger. He requested a mental health assessment as per his mother’s direction. She advised the hospital that her son thought everyone was against him, and often talked to himself. She reported that there had been a recent escalation in violent behaviour. At times, he approached her and stopped himself just short of hitting her. The diagnostic impression was “anxiety.” Mr. Gooding was not prescribed any medication and was discharged the same day.
Following the NCR finding, Mr. Goodding was admitted to a secure forensic unit at CAMH. In 2023, he had a number of transfers to units with increasing levels of security due to assaults on staff and co-patients. In May 2023, Mr. Gooding had a disagreement with another patient that nearly resulted in a physical altercation, but for the intervention by staff. Of serious concern is that in May 2023 Mr. Gooding was found to have a box cutter in his room.
A turning point was in February 2024. Mr. Gooding agreed to switch to long-acting injections of his antipsychotic medication. Since then, he has worked collaboratively with his treatment teams and has not demonstrated any aggression or violent behaviour.
Course Since the Last Disposition
Mr. Gooding’s current diagnoses are schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder in sustained remission within a controlled setting. He has remained capable of consenting to treatment. For the first four months of the clinical year, he resided on a secure forensic unit. On September 30, 2024, he was transferred to FGUB, a forensic general unit, where he currently resides.
Mr. Gooding’s psychotic symptoms have included paranoid delusions, auditory hallucinations, and negative symptoms such as paucity in the depth of thought content and affect restriction. During the last year he experienced two episodes of breakthrough psychotic symptoms. In October 2024, he was off his baseline, appearing guarded and curt in his demeanor. His presentation was thought to be in keeping with breakthrough paranoia, caused by the stress of transitioning to a new unit. This unit had been declared on outbreak by the Toronto Public Health. His antipsychotic medication was increased to address the breakthrough symptoms.
In March 2025, Mr. Gooding was in a therapeutic group. He appeared to be speaking to himself and was observed responding to internal stimuli. He suddenly lunged forward in his chair with a fearful expression on his face. He was placed on close observation and his antipsychotic medication was again increased. Within two days he was back at his baseline.
Over the course of the year, Mr. Gooding has participated in a number of programs and groups, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and sessions focused on discharge readiness. In December 2024, he began attending an anger management program in the community. In January 2025, he began volunteering at the Trinity Café on a weekly basis. In March 2025, he started utilizing privileges that allow him to attend the community indirectly supervised for recreational and social purposes.
Dr Jaiswal testified before the Board. He reported that Mr. Gooding experienced another breakthrough of psychotic symptoms on April 7, 2025. This was confirmed by his mother when she was contacted by the treatment team. The doctor noted that Mr. Gooding’s long-acting injection was likely wearing off as his next injection was due April 11, 2025. In addition, Dr. Jaiswal identified the anticipated ORB hearing as a stressor which also would have been a factor. Mr. Gooding agreed to change the frequency of his long-acting injections as well as an increase in the dose. His passes in the community were suspended temporarily and resumed a week later. There have been no concerns in the exercise of those passes.
Dr. Jaiswal testified that over the next year, the focus is on pursuing appropriate supervised housing for Mr. Gooding. The doctor anticipated that applications would likely be submitted over the course of the summer.
Dr. Jaiswal noted that Mr. Gooding has had a positive year overall. He has successfully transitioned to a general forensic unit and is working well with the treatment team. Mr. Gooding also has good support from his mother, who he communicates with on a daily basis.
In response to questions from the panel, Dr. Jaiswal indicated that Mr. Gooding’s insight is not robust. When he experiences breakthrough symptoms, he does not notice the changes in his mental status. His insight into the need for medication and the risk for violence is similarly not robust and is quite limited.
All parties maintained the joint submission.
Analysis and Conclusion
The Board carefully considered the Hospital Report and the evidence of Dr. Jaiswal and unanimously concluded that Mr. Gooding continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. Mr. Gooding suffers from schizophrenia and continues to experience breakthrough symptoms. Those symptoms include paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations. When Mr. Gooding experiences stress, his symptoms become more pronounced. When his mental status deteriorated, he has acted out with violence, as demonstrated by the index offence and when he committed unprovoked assaults on co-patients.
Having found that Mr. Gooding continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, the panel must consider the necessary and appropriate disposition taking into consideration the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code, which includes the need to protect the public from dangerous persons, the mental condition of the accused, the integration of the accused into society and the other needs of the accused.
The panel unanimously agrees with the joint submission that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a detention order. Mr. Gooding has had a good year while being supported and supervised in hospital by the treatment team and by his mother. He has been engaged in programming and activities in the community. His passes in the community have been going well.
However, coping with stress has been identified as a significant risk for Mr. Gooding. It has contributed to his instability and led to aggression. As plans are formulated for Mr. Gooding’s discharge into the community, this will be an important consideration. The Board accepts Dr. Jaiswal’s evidence that the hospital requires the ability to approve Mr. Gooding’s accommodations in order to ensure that he receives adequate support, and supervision. This is crucial to managing his risk in the community.
The Board would like to congratulate Mr. Gooding for his successful year and his progress, in particular, since his transition to the general forensic unit. He continues to enjoy the ongoing support of his treatment team and his mother. It is anticipated that he will be discharged into supportive housing in the community within the next clinical year, continuing his integration into the community.
In conclusion, the Board orders that Mr. Gooding be subject to a detention order with the same terms and conditions as his exiting disposition.
DATED this 10^th^ day of June, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Ms. C. Finley Legal Member
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Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board