Re: Muon Van Hoang
ORB File No: 2721
Hearing held on: Monday, February 2, 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: Muon Van Hoang Counsel: Mr. T. Whillier
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
Muon Van Hoang, age 61, was on June 21, 1990, found not guilty by reason of insanity on a charge of murder, contrary to the Criminal Code.
Mr. Hoang appeared before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital”) on February 2, 2026, for his annual hearing. While Mr. Hoang communicates with staff in English, he benefits from the services of an interpreter. A Vietnamese interpreter provided simultaneous translation at the hearing.
Exhibit 1 before the Board was the Hospital Report dated December 29, 2025.
Preliminary positions revealed all parties support a significant threat to the safety of the public and the continuation of the current Disposition with one change. It was advanced that his reporting should be reduced from at least once a week to at least once a month. By the end of the hearing, the Board agreed.
Index Offence
- The details of the index offences are taken from last year's Reasons for Disposition, as follows:
“On July 21, 1989, Mr. Hoang, his brother, aunt, uncle and some friends travelled by bus to Hamilton to his aunt's house. They were planning to go on to Kitchener to attend the funeral of an acquaintance, a Mr. Kong, who had been bludgeoned to death. Upon arriving in Hamilton, Mr. Hoang became frightened but did not know what was causing his fear. While the other members of the group went on to Kitchener, Mr. Hoang and a friend remained in Hamilton and later went to visit his brother. He became more and more frightened and returned to his aunt's house. He told his friend that he felt frightened inside and was afraid that something was going to happen to his family. Mr. Hoang asked his friend to telephone his home in Ottawa because he wanted to talk to Binh, his sister, but he could not remember his home telephone number.
Mr. Hoang then set out to return to Ottawa by bus. Upon arrival in Toronto, he had to wait a long time for the bus to Ottawa. While waiting in the bus terminal in Toronto, his fear intensified. He was afraid that someone was going to kill him. The messages from the public announcement system appeared loud and confusing to him. Suddenly, Mr. Hoang heard, in his head, funeral music for Mr. Kong. Mr. Hoang felt that he was going to be killed and he had to find some way to escape. He also heard a voice through the public announcement system telling him that his family members were going to be killed and he had to save the family by killing one member instead of all family members being killed. By this time, the noises had become clear voices, and he became anxious, tense, and frightened.
Mr. Hoang arrived in Ottawa very late and, while walking home, he was approached by two Caucasians who asked if he wanted to buy some cocaine. He told them he did not, but this incident further aggravated his fear as he took it as a sign that something tragic was going to happen to the family. After arriving home, he stayed in the kitchen for a while and smoked a few cigarettes. He saw a tall man outside carrying a suitcase. This man evidently gave an order to Mr. Hoang to kill. Mr. Hoang saw a red circle on the floor, an empty beer bottle, a lemon and a knife on the kitchen table. By seeing these items, he was convinced that he must sacrifice one person to save the rest of the family.
Mr. Hoang grabbed the knife and, while concealing the knife, he knocked on his mother's bedroom door. Mr. Hoang's mother reported that, when she opened the door for him, she saw a look on his face, which was very frightening and unusual. He apparently did not say anything. He then went to the room where his two sisters were sleeping. The victim was sleeping on the side closer to him. He woke her up and then stabbed her three times – in the upper rear shoulder blade, the centre of her back and through her arm. His mother's screaming woke his father who wrestled him to the floor. Mr. Hoang continued to hold the knife in his hand and was still holding it when the police arrived and arrested him.”
- In 2011, while living in a group home and while apparently stable, Mr. Hoang stabbed a co-patient.
Background
- These are well set out last year’s Reasons:
“Mr. Hoang’s personal, legal and psychiatric history are set out in detail in the Hospital Report. Briefly summarized, Mr. Hoang is currently 60(61) years of age and was born in Vietnam. He was 19 years of age when he left Vietnam with his family. The family initially settled in Quebec City and then moved to Ottawa in 1989. Mr. Hoang’s parents were unable to find employment and relied on welfare assistance.
Mr. Hoang went to school in Vietnam for a year though he did not like school and did not finish grade 1. He never returned to school. With respect to employment history, he reported that he had worked as a dishwasher and worked in a factory for seven months. Mr. Hoang is currently supported by ODSP, and his finances are managed by the Public Guardian and Trustee.
Mr. Hoang has no formal psychiatric history prior to the index offences. There is no reported family history of psychiatric illness. He committed the index offence in 1989 at the age of 25.
With respect to his criminal history, Mr. Hoang has no charges or convictions prior to the index offences but following the NGRI finding for the first-degree murder of his sister, Mr. Hoang was charged with possession of a scheduled substance which resulted in a stay of proceedings in 1997 and in 2012 he was charged and convicted of assault with a weapon for which he received a four-month term of incarceration, making him a dual status offender at the time. The assault related to an incident when Mr. Hoang stabbed a co-patient at a 24/7 supervised home in the community.
Mr. Hoang’s current diagnosis is treatment-resistant schizophrenia.”
- In March of 2025, Mr. Hoang was discharged to a REENA residence.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. L. Eid, the patient’s outpatient psychiatrist, testified. Dr. Eid took over from Dr. Van who was on leave. There were no updates to the Hospital Report. Mr. Hoang had a successful transition to REENA. Mr. Hoang transitioned well to a different psychiatrist and a different case manager. Mr. Hoang is supported well by REENA staff and by the Forensic Outpatient Team.
Mr. Hoang’s housing at REENA is anticipated as permanent.
The areas of focus will be to reinforce integration into the community. When Mr. Hoang goes out, he is always accompanied by one staff. The goal is to move toward Mr. Hoang doing things on his own, without a staff member supervising him. The doctor reported Mr. Hoang keeps himself busy.
Mental health has been stable since moving to REENA. The forensic team and REENA staff have good communications and would speak with one another if an issue arose. The doctor observed that the forensic outpatient involvement is somewhat redundant given the high degree of support offered at REENA. Currently, Mr. Hoang sees his FOPS caseworker and psychiatrist every week. It is proposed to change that to not less than once a month.
Mr. Hoang can leave on his own but has not expressed a desire to do so yet. Once a week, Mr. Hoang attends the Hong Fook Society for culturally familiar meals. On different days of the week, he goes bowling and attends movies. He frequently attends the hospital cooking classes.
Mr. Hoang gets along well with some co-tenants and is more likely to do things with those he gets along with.
Mr. Hoang has not had contact with his family in over 10 years.
Analysis
- The Board was presented with a joint submission. Significant threat was conceded. His significant risk is well made out by the seriousness of the index offence. The 2011 stabbing incident in a group home, while appearing stable, informs caution. The Board heard that the transition to REENA has gone very well. Mr. Hoang is very active. His weekly calendar is filled up with activities, and he has voiced that he is quite comfortable at REENA. The plan to promote greater independence and to work on his confidence makes sense. The reduction in reporting is supported by the high degree of support he receives from REENA staff. We wish Mr. Hoang 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
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board