Ontario Review Board
Re: Dylan Sherief
ORB File No. 8714
Hearing Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Hearing Location: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code;
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. L. Banks
Members: Dr. T. Verny
Dr. S. Wiseman
Mr. W. Apted
Mr. K. McKenna
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Dylan Sherief Counsel: Mr. S. Shabestary
The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Szabo
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. V. Culp
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 19, 2025)
Introduction
Mr. Sherief was found not criminally responsible (NCR) on January 31, 2025, for the Criminal Code offence of 2nd degree murder. The offence date was December 6, 2022.
A panel of the Ontario Review Board convened this initial hearing on May 6, 2025, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to consider whether Mr. Sherief represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, and if so, to determine the necessary and appropriate Disposition pursuant to s. 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
At the commencement of the hearing, the Hospital recommended a detention order with privileges extending to indirectly supervised passes into the community, a prohibition from the use of cannabis and non-medically prescribed substances, submission of urine samples to test for the use of substances, and a prohibition from the possession of weapons. Crown Counsel supported the Hospital’s recommendation, but wanted to question the Hospital’s witness in regard to indirect community passes. Crown Counsel also recommended that there should be a no contact clause with respect to Donavin Comeau and Alexis Ashley. Counsel for Mr. Sherief supported the Hospital’s recommendation, and took no position regarding the no contact provision.
After considering the evidence the panel concluded that a detention order was necessary and appropriate with the conditions recommended by the Hospital, together with the no contact provision as requested by the Crown.
Index Offence
- The following is a synopsis of the facts pertaining to the index offence.
On December 6, 2022 at approximately 2:20 am, Nicola Maiorano was in Felstead Avenue Playground immediately south of 1275 Danforth Avenue, Toronto when Dylan Branden Sherief stabbed him in his upper left neck and thereby caused his death.
Earlier that night, Dylan Sherief, his friend Donavin Comeau and Donavin’s girlfriend Alexis Ashley, were at Donavin’s apartment. They decided to go out to get something to eat. Dylan Sherief drove them in a Volvo automobile. As they drove along Danforth Avenue, they saw Nicola Maiorano on the street and Dylan Sherief parked the car. They approached Nicola Maiorano and discussed purchasing drugs from him. All four then walked to the Felstead Avenue Playground.
Donavin Comeau and Alexis Ashley stood ten to twenty feet away from Dylan Sherief and Nicola Maiorano. There was no dispute or altercation between Dylan Sherief and Nicola Maiorano. They spoke in normal tones.
Nicola Maiorano was bent over holding a bag of drugs in both hands. He said words to the effect of “hold this buddy.”
Dylan Sherief suddenly and without provocation plunged a knife into Nicola Maiorano’s neck.
Nicola Maiorano put his hand to his neck and his white shirt turned red. He tried to take a swing at Dylan Sherief but he was too weak.
Dylan Sherief then stood there in shock with both arms out to his sides holding the knife in one hand.
Donavin Comeau and Alexis Ashley ran.
Dylan Sherief stood frozen briefly and then ran too.
Nicola Maiorano walked quickly out of the park in a different direction with blood pouring out of him. He entered the apartment building at 1275 Danforth. When he got to his apartment he collapsed on the floor and died from the single stab wound to his neck.
Dylan Sherief, Donavin Comeau and Alexis Ashley stopped at a convenience store part way to the Volvo. Dylan Sherief was wearing blue medical gloves. Dylan Sherief wrapped the knife in a blue glove and then put it in his pocket.
The three of them returned to the Volvo and drove to Donavin’s apartment. They removed the licence plates from the car and Ashley Alexis took them in to the apartment.
Dylan Sherief threw the knife into a nearby ravine.
The police arrested Dylan Sherief for murder on December 8, 2022.
Hospital Report dated April 23, 2025
The Hospital Report dated April 23, 2025, was prepared for this hearing and contains a detailed review of Mr. Sherief’s personal and mental health history. The panel was also provided with the court related documents, an NCR Report dated August 2024, and a Psychiatric Report dated October 2024.
Mr. Sherief is diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type, and Substance-use Disorder, in remission in a controlled setting.
Mr. Sherief has 3 entries on his criminal record. In 2021 he was convicted of Trespassing at Night and received a conditional discharge and 3 years probation. In 2022 he was convicted of Impersonating a Peace Officer, and received 1 day custody and 18 months probation. In 2022 he was convicted of Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon, and received 18 months probation after being given credit for 60 days pre-sentence custody.
Mr. Sherief’s parents separated when he was approximately 18 months old, and he was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents.
Mr. Sherief graduated from high school with an average of approximately 52%. He attributed his grades to a lack of motivation and a failure to complete assignments. After upgrading his marks at an adult day-school he was accepted into the English program at the University of Toronto. He did well academically in his first year but did not return for the second year. Mr. Sherief reported that he did not fit in well with younger students, and began consuming cannabis. He also referred to experiencing one episode of a drug induced psychosis. At age 26 he enrolled in a psychology program at York University, but only completed a few courses due to ongoing episodes of psychosis.
Mr. Sherief began using cannabis at the age of 14. At age 15, he started using Ecstasy (MDMA) and then cocaine at the age of 27 (2019)
He has had various brief periods of employment that ended in 2021. Since then, he has focused on film related projects.
Regarding his psychiatric history, the onset of his psychiatric illness was in 2015; and his first contact with mental health services was in 2016 when he was hospitalized at Markham-Stoufville Hospital. In the following years he received outpatient and inpatient treatment at Markham-Stoufville, Mackenzie Health, and Cortelucci Vaughan Hospital. The medical records refer to problems with medication non-compliance, poor insight into his mental condition and the need for treatment, and his symptoms being exacerbated by substance use.
He was brought to Mackenzie Health in August 2017, because of concerns with escalating behaviour, erratic sleep, not eating, decreased hygiene, responding to auditory hallucinations, and stating that he was part of the Illuminati. Prior to this admission, he had been non-compliant with his medication. During an earlier admission to hospital, Mr. Sherief advised hospital staff that he had stopped taking his medication months before because he didn’t think he needed it. He was noted to be thought disordered and distracted.
Mr. Sherief reported hearing four voices engaged in conversation telling him that they were going to “analyze and decode him, and then put him away.”
Mr. Sherief was again admitted to Mackenzie Health in January 2020. He was brought to the hospital after his grandparents obtained a Form 2 under the Mental Health Act. He had been subject to a community treatment order (CTO) until 3 months prior to this hospital admission. The CTO was withdrawn after Mr. Sherief retained a lawyer to challenge the CTO. His grandparents reported to hospital staff that Mr. Sherief began deteriorating after the CTO ended; he had been eating and sleeping less, he was pacing at night, and he had purchased a $35,000 car which he had difficulty financing.
He was again admitted to the hospital after being placed on a Mental Health Act Form 1 by his outpatient psychiatrist. He had stopped taking his medication and his condition declined. His grandparents reported that Mr. Sherief had driven to Port Perry and entered a stranger’s home. He successfully challenged the Form 1 and left the hospital against medical advice.
In October 2022, Mr. Sherief was admitted after stopping his medication. His grandparents described his behaviour as violent, agitated, and aggressive. The records note Mr. Sherief experiencing grandiose and persecutory delusions.
In 2019 Mr. Sherief was asked to leave his grandparents’ home after they discovered illicit substances in his belongings. He then became homeless, sometimes sleeping in his car or renting a motel room.
Mr. Sherief had been discharged from hospital on November 9, 2022, one month before the index offence. He managed to evade treatment arranged for him in the community by hiding in Mr. Comeau’s apartment. The Hospital Report refers to the symptoms he began experiencing as “epic.” Mr. Sherief described voices of spirits menacing him and apparitions zooming through his field of vision.
A couple of weeks before the index offence Mr. Sherief began receiving commands from the spirits to kill someone. He reported experiencing serious threats of physical harm by the spirits if he did not comply with this demand. On several occasions Mr. Sherief roamed the streets looking for a victim. On one occasion he brought a person to Mr. Comeau’s apartment, but “could not go through with it.” The voices continued to escalate.
When asked to describe the index offence, Mr. Sherief spoke of “strange phenomena happening.” He referred to supernatural events such as feeling hands on him when he slept, and seeing a blanket being lifted off him. Voices told him they would steal his soul, and that he either followed the command and killed someone or he would be killed.
Mr. Sherief did not believe that his perception of supernatural events was evidence of psychosis, and did not accept that medication non-compliance increased his risk for violence. He did not understand how the symptoms of his mental illness contributed to the index offence.
Mr. Sherief was incarcerated from the time of the index offence, December 6, 2022, until his admission to CAMH on February 27, 2025. At CAMH he is detained in the secure Forensic-Assessment and Treatment Unit.
He has been prescribed a long-acting injectable aripiprazole, which he receives every 4 weeks. He also receives a daily oral mood stabilizing medication. The doctor advised that Mr. Sherief is assessed as capable of consenting to his psychiatric treatment. Since his admission, there have been no overt signs or symptoms of mood disturbance or psychosis. There have been no behavioural concerns or abuse of substances.
Regarding his insight into his mental condition and need for treatment, Mr. Sherief acknowledged an improvement in his mental health over the past 2 years. He understood that some of his past experiences were psychotic, but did not believe that his experiences at the time of the index offence were psychotic.
A psychological assessment report dated April 14, 2025, notes that Mr. Sherief is in the borderline range for global cognitive functioning, and that while medication may be having a positive effect, there are still difficulties with fluid cognitive processes.
Testimony of Dr. Dupre
Dr. Dupre has been treating Mr. Sherief since March 2025, and she testified at this hearing.
She indicated that Mr. Sherief’s insight into the relationship between symptoms and his behaviour has been improving. He has avoided substance use, and has been compliant with treatment within the highly structured and supervised environment of the hospital. Mr. Sherief is also better able to manage stressful situations.
Dr. Dupre advised that Mr. Sherief currently resides on the Forensic-Assessment and Treatment Unit (FATU) and that he has not been able to exercise any privileges. She anticipated, that if he remains on his current positive trajectory, he might be able to progress to using indirectly supervised passes into the community towards the end of the upcoming year.
Dr. Dupre indicated that Mr. Sherief is not able to access any therapeutic programming from the (FATU).
She further stated that in the upcoming year, the treatment team would like to see improvement in his insight into his illness and the need for treatment.
In answer to questions from Crown Counsel, Dr. Dupre stated that Mr. Sherief has indicated an interest in attending programs. She cautioned that this is still very early in his treatment, and that close supervision and monitoring supervision is necessary.
Dr. Dupre advised that Mr. Sherief’s grandparents may be appropriate approved persons. It is important, Dr. Dupre suggested, that as Mr. Sherief’s privileges are gradually increased the team is able to assess his response to greater liberties in the context of his commitment to medication adherence and abstinence.
Dr. Dupre agreed with a suggestion from counsel to Mr. Sherief that Mr. Sherief lacks support in the community beyond his grandparents, and that he would benefit from engagement in structured activities. The doctor commented that Mr. Sherief has a number of negative peer influences in the community and that he lacks a prosocial peer group.
Dr. Dupre advised counsel that there are educational and employment opportunities available on the Hospital grounds. She confirmed that Mr. Sherief has not used substances while in custody or in the Hospital.
In answering questions from the panel, Dr. Dupre advised that the long-acting injectable does operate as a safety net in terms of medication compliance. Mr. Sherief is most likely to transfer to a general forensic unit over the next several months. It is possible for Mr. Sherief to access hospital grounds accompanied from the FATU.
The Hospital intends to be very cautious in allowing Mr. Sherief to exercise any passes that are not accompanied by staff or an approved person.
Dr. Dupre indicated that she is not aware of Mr. Sherief’s relationship with his mother, and indicated that he was primarily raised by his grandparents.
In response to a question raised by a panel member, the doctor advised that Mr. Sherief is not particularly forthcoming about his internal experiences and that he presents with superficial insight.
Submissions
The Hospital submitted that it is very early in Mr. Sherief’s treatment, and that privileges will be increased very gradually. Counsel suggested that having indirectly supervised passes into the community could motivate Mr. Sherief to comply with treatment and engage with the team. Counsel for the Hospital took no position on the request for an no-contact provision.
Crown Counsel submitted that it is premature to include indirectly supervised passes into the community in this Disposition. He stressed that it is very early in his treatment, and counsel highlighted the gravity of the index offence.
Counsel for Mr. Sherief submitted that it is appropriate to include the indirectly supervised community passes. They will likely assist with his rehabilitation, and the risk can be managed by a very gradual progression. He also referred to Mr. Sherief not engaging in any problematic behaviour during his time in custody and then in the hospital. He also referred to Mr. Sherief’s grandparents as being very supportive and willing to work with the Hospital’s professional staff which is helpful with risk management.
Analysis
Mr. Sherief is a significant threat to the safety of the public, and a detention order is necessary and appropriate.
The index offence was extremely violent resulting in the death of Mr. Nicola Maiorano. It was an unpredictable and unprovoked act of lethal violence.
Mr. Sherief is diagnosed with a major mental illness, and had been experiencing psychotic symptoms since 2015 that became more severe over time. They included delusions and command hallucinations directing him to kill someone.
Mr. Sherief began using cannabis at the age of 14, and then progressed to the use of various illicit substances which had a detrimental effect on his mental health.
The evidence indicates, that although Mr. Sherief’s insight is improving in hospital, he still does not appreciate the relationship between his psychotic symptoms and violent behaviour. He also does not accept the benefits of medication in controlling his symptoms and maintaining mental stability
Mr. Sherief was only admitted to CAMH on February 27, 2025. It is very early in his treatment, and the Hospital must be able to supervise and monitor his progress over a period of time to assess his medication and treatment compliance and his mental status. With progress and stability, Mr. Sherief could possibly progress to the point of exercising indirectly supervised passes into the community before the end of this reporting year. It is necessary and appropriate, therefore, to include this discretionary privilege in the Disposition in order to support his continued re-integration into society.
Mr. Sherief will not be permitted contact with Mr. Donavin Comeau and Ms. Alexis Ashley.
The balance of the terms recommended by the Hospital are appropriate.
In coming to this conclusion, the panel has applied the principles provided in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code.
DATED this 19th day of June, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. K. McKenna
Legal Member
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board