Re Christopher Dobson
ORB File No: 8630
Hearing held on: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Place of Hearing: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus
Pursuant to: Section 672.81 (1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. L. Banks
Members: Dr. M. Attia Dr. P. N. Wright Mr. E. Siebenmorgen Ms. A. Mete
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Christopher Dobson Counsel: Mr. A. Rai
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. L. Barney
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. C. Gzik
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION (Dated January 2, 2026)
Introduction
1Christopher Dobson, currently age 44, was found not criminally responsible on October 18, 2024, on charges of wilful mischief, assaulting a peace officer, theft of a motor vehicle, assault with a weapon, fail to comply with a release order, assault, and assault causing bodily harm, all contrary to the Criminal Code. The Court declined to make a Disposition and referred the matter to the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or “the Board”). On November 13, 2024, Mr. Dobson appeared before the Board at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (“SJHH” or “the Hospital”) for his initial hearing under s. 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code. The hearing resulted in a Disposition dated November 21, 2024, pursuant to which Mr. Dobson was ordered detained at the Hospital’s Forensic Psychiatry Program subject to several conditions, with privileges extending up to and including community living in supervised accommodation.
2As noted in the 2024 Reasons for Disposition, Mr. Dobson had previously been found NCR in 2019 for offences, committed in December of 2018 and April of 2019 respectively, of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and failing to comply with an undertaking. Mr. Dobson was exhibiting paranoid beliefs at the time of those offences, including that the FBI and American military were following him. Mr. Dobson was initially detained as an inpatient at the Hospital and eventually received a Conditional Discharge, on October 1, 2021. He was granted an Absolute Discharge on September 28, 2022.
3On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, a panel of the Board convened in person at the Hospital to conduct Mr. Dobson’s annual review of his Disposition. The