Re: Ahmed A. Ahmed
ORB File No: 6369
Hearing held on: Friday, February 6, 2026
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. M.D. Segal
Members: Dr. G.A. Chaimowitz
Dr. H. Moulden
Hon. N. Kozloff
Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Ahmed A. Ahmed
Counsel: Mr. T. McIver
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. C. Coughlan
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 9, 2026)
Introduction
Ahmed A. Ahmed, age 42, was found on July 9, 2013, not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on two charges of aggravated assault, contrary to the Criminal Code.
Mr. Ahmed, who is on a Detention Order with privileges up to and including to live in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge, appeared before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) for his annual hearing at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital”) on February 6, 2026.
The Board had before it a Hospital Report as Exhibit 1 dated January 19, 2026. By way of background the Board also had correspondence from the hospital dated November 19, 2024, a Disposition arising out of a Restriction of Liberty dated January 24, 2025, Reasons for Disposition relating to the Restriction of Liberty and the most recent Disposition.
A sealed envelope was delivered to the hearing. It was apparently from a community social worker. The parties were asked their views. The patient’s counsel strenuously objected to admission, indicating that the major thrust of the document was an attack on him, as counsel. The other parties had no position. In all the circumstances, the Board declined to receive it.
In preliminary positions the hospital, supported by Crown counsel, advanced that the current Disposition was appropriate with one change. The community in which approved accommodation could be sought should be expanded to include the Greater Toronto Area. Mr. T.R. McIver, counsel for the patient, did not oppose the change, conceded significant risk to the safety of the public, but wished to explore the issue of permitting cannabis consumption. By the conclusion of the hearing, the Board held that significant risk was made out and that the one change to the catchment area was appropriate. The Board also concluded that the current clause requiring abstention from non-medical use of alcohol or drugs or any other intoxicant remained necessary.
Diagnoses
- • Substance Induced Psychosis
- Polysubstance Dependence (in remission)
Index Offence
- “On Monday, May 7th, 2012, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the accused Ahmed Abdurahaman Ahmed was at his residence, located at 30 Halesia Drive, in the city of Toronto.
This house is operated as a rooming house with 8 bedrooms. At this time, one of the tenants (a) called the landlord (Rampersaud) and told him the accused was acting in an angry and aggressive manner. The landlord attended the address and spoke with the accused. The landlord left shortly after when he believed the accused had calmed.
After the landlord left, the accused then approached the first victim’s bedroom door, which was locked. The accused kicked in the door and approached the victim (Belay) while holding electrical wire in one hand and a broken beer bottle in the other hand. The accused attacked the victim with a bottle, stabbing the victim on his cheek and abdomen.
The accused then exited the room and went downstairs, where he found the second victim (Pucek). The accused was now armed with a beer bottle. The accused attacked the second victim, striking him on the head repeatedly with a beer bottle. The accused then picked up the brick and began striking the victim’s head with the brick.
The victim was eventually able to escape from the house. Police were called and attended. Both victims were located nearby and taken to hospital for treatment.
Police located the accused a few blocks from the house, where he was arrested, advised of his right to legal counsel and taken to 23 Division.
Victim’s Injuries:
Victim #1: Stab wounds to cheek and abdomen. To be treated and released.
Victim #2: Large amounts of swelling to head. Numerous cuts to head. Taken for emergency CT scan due to possible internal bleeding to head.
A beer bottle covered in blood was located on the accused. A large brick was located on the front lawn.
Background
Mr. Ahmed’s personal history is set forth in detail in the Hospital Report and need not be repeated in detail here. Briefly stated, he is a 42-year-old man. He was born in Somalia. At age 6, he was brought to Canada by his maternal cousin, who acted as his guardian. They lived in Ottawa, moving to Toronto when Mr. Ahmed was 10. At age 16, he began to experiment with drugs, including marijuana, and there were conflicts at home with his guardian related to his drug use. He continued to live at home until age 25, when his guardian and her family moved to Europe.
Another cousin became a primary support for Mr. Ahmed and connected him with a Street Health outreach worker at a time when he was homeless. Both his cousin and the worker from Street Health continue to be significant sources of support for Mr. Ahmed.
Mr. Ahmed remained in high school into his early 20s and graduated after taking adult education courses. He began working in a factory when he was 18 and left the job six years later when he returned to Kenya to visit family. At age 24, he began working in factory jobs through an employment agency and last worked approximately two years before the index offences.
Mr. Ahmed began using marijuana at age 16, which led to daily use. He was also a heavy drinker when he had the money. He began using crack cocaine at age 26 or 27 and was using up to a couple of grams per week until 2012, when the index offences occurred. He was treated for substance abuse in Africa in 2008.
Mr. Ahmed had no record of psychiatric admissions or criminal charges prior to the index offences, which occurred following a night of crack cocaine use. The first victim suffered stab wounds to his cheek and abdomen. The second victim suffered a serious head injury.
After the index offences, Mr. Ahmed lived at Seaton House, where he continued to use crack cocaine. He was admitted to hospital under the Mental Health Act and subsequently entered a residential treatment program, but he returned to substance use shortly thereafter. Mr. Ahmed remained in the community after his initial ORB hearing, which placed him on a detention disposition. Since then, and as documented in greater detail in the hospital report, a pattern has emerged of detention with counselling for substance relapse prevention and participation in programs, followed by struggles with cravings for drugs, going AWOL and using a variety of substances while AWOL, subsequently returning to hospital (often on his own.)
In one incident in December 2022, Mr. Ahmed went AWOL during a snowstorm and suffered severe frostbite, which ultimately necessitated the amputation of fingers on both of his hands. He reported using about $600 worth of crystal methamphetamine during that AWOL.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. Owen O'Sullivan, the patient’s psychiatrist since August 2025 when Mr. Ahmed was transferred to a general unit, testified.
Dr. O’Sullivan endorsed his report. There have been no significant changes in presentation or significant risk update since the report.
Mr. Ahmed has had a couple of moves in the reporting period. He went from an assessment unit, which is the most secure unit, to secure rehabilitation, to a general forensic unit.
Currently, Mr. Ahmed is positively engaged including in therapeutic activities. There was a blemish. On October 25, 2025, Mr. Ahmed absconded. Mr. Ahmed has a chronic craving for substances. The AWOL was only for a few days. During the elopement he slept very little. He was seeking and using drugs. He sold his belongings. His shoes went missing. He had blisters on his feet from walking. He gave away his bank account information and pin number. He had consumed alcohol, crack cocaine, and cannabis. There was a decompensation. Upon his return, he was somewhat aggressive and displaying borderline psychosis. Mr. Ahmed ran out of money and drugs causing him to return to the hospital’s emergency unit and eventually back to the general unit.
In April 2025, Mr. Ahmed agreed to a second anti-craving medication. It has been titrated to the maximum. Mr. Ahmed acknowledges it helps a bit. The doctor noted that Mr. Ahmed is treatment resistant. He has had multiple relapses over the years and multiple AWOLs. However, there have been periods of abstinence.
Mr. Ahmed has been involved in multiple courses of therapeutic treatment, both group and individual.
Mr. Ahmed’s idea is that he be permitted cannabis on the weekend - a “weekend warrior” approach. He would be abstinent on weekdays and partake on the weekend. The doctor is firmly opposed to such an approach, especially in Mr. Ahmed’s case. His attraction to substances is significant. He has used multiple substances, frequently simultaneously. The ingestion of substances leads to psychosis and violent behaviour. After taking substances, he decomposes swiftly. He quickly accelerates to polysubstances and is at a high risk of violence.
The doctor envisions structure and activities that give Mr. Ahmed a sense of purpose.
Indirect passes into the community present a very high degree of risk at present. His last AWOL was precipitated by observing others participating in substances during an accompanied pass.
Mr. Ahmed is attending FORCAT where he receives 1:1 assistance including in relation to substance relapse measures.
Mr. Ahmed has a cousin in Toronto. His family is in Kenya.
Prior to the October elopement, Mr. Ahmed had attained level 7 passes for volunteering, education, and vocational training. Mr. Ahmed has volunteered at a local food bank in past. At present, he is on level 3 privileges on hospital grounds accompanied.
The doctor observed that cannabis consumption is not tolerated on hospital grounds. The hospital will seek to balance out increasing privileges while avoiding circumstances that provide an opportunity to acquire substances.
Since the last AWOL, Mr. Ahmed’s behaviour has been positive. He has a good relationship with his forensic team.
If matters progress, the hospital will look at highly supportive housing. Some years ago, Mr. Ahmed was in SHIP housing.
In final submissions patient’s counsel acknowledged that the doctor had made out a compelling case that did not support consumption of cannabis. The agreement to take a second anti-craving medication is to Mr. Ahmed’s credit.
Analysis
Mr. Ahmed has a history of psychosis, including paranoia and disorganization. He was psychotic when admitted to hospital after the index offences. Mr. Ahmed's mental status has improved markedly with antipsychotic medication. He has been forthright about his cravings. He has a long history of substance abuse involving several relapses. When he goes AWOL, he becomes involved in criminal culture.
Mr. Ahmed has a history of significant violence. There have been many relapses involving crack cocaine, cannabis, and stimulants.
The Re-offence Scenario at page 54 of the Hospital Report is compelling to the Board.
“If Mr. Ahmed was to reoffend, it would likely transpire in the following way: he would rapidly resume substance use (which may be associated with various forms of security subversion), leading to a decompensation of his mental status, which would include the development of psychotic symptoms such as paranoia. He would likely become agitated and may act in a similar manner as the index offense, such as indiscriminately attacking those in his proximity.”
During the review period Mr. Ahmed progressed well moving through to a general unit, engaging with treatment, and receiving increased privileges. The AWOL in October and early November saw him set back. As always, Mr. Ahmed is cooperating with the forensic team and engaging in therapeutic treatment. His privilege level is now building up again.
Significant risk was not contested but is well made out. The hospital requires a Detention Order to bring Mr. Ahmed in as he decompensates very quickly. Eventually the hospital will need to approve supportive housing. Expanding the catchment area for housing makes sense. The evidence was very clear that cannabis consumption is a very bad idea in Mr. Ahmed’s case. In addition to being related to psychosis it will inhibit a residential placement. We wish Mr. Ahmed well in the upcoming year.
DATED this 9th day of March, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. M.D. Segal
Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board