Re: Abdelaziz Abdella Abdelaziz
ORB File No: 8642
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: Abdelaziz Abdella Abdelaziz Counsel: Mr. D. Delle Fave
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
Abdelaziz Abdella Abdelaziz, age 36, was on October 9, 2024, found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on a charge of murder, contrary to the Criminal Code. On January 23, 2025, Mr. Abdelaziz had his first hearing under the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) resulting in a Detention Order, with privileges up to and including to enter the community of the Greater Toronto Area accompanied by staff or a person approved by the person in charge.
On February 2, 2026, Mr. Abdelaziz appeared before the Board from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital”) for his annual hearing. An Arabic interpreter provided simultaneous translation. Exhibit 1 was the Hospital Report dated January 6, 2026.
In initial positions, the hospital, joined by Crown counsel, sought a continuation of the Detention Order with the addition of community living in approved accommodation. If residing in the community, the patient was to report not less than once per week. Mr. Delle Fave, for the patient, conceded significant risk to the safety of the public and supported the hospital’s recommendation. By the conclusion of the hearing the Board agreed that significant risk to the safety of the public had been made out and that the joint submission properly reflected the least onerous and least restrictive disposition that both protected the public and was supportive of the patient’s rehabilitation.
Diagnoses
- As found in the hospital report the diagnoses are:
Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Psychotic Disorder
Substance Use Disorder (cannabis) in sustained remission, within a controlled environment
Index Offence (from last year’s reasons)
- “On August 26, 2023, the accused and his brother Majid were roommates. They lived with another man on the first-floor unit of an apartment building. The accused left the apartment building alone in the morning. He drove his car and stopped for gas and at a Kitchen Stuff Plus store, where he purchased a knife and another object. He returned to the apartment building where he spent a few minutes in the car before exiting; he was doing something with his hands. Later, when the police searched the car, they located a knife sharpener on the passenger seat. The accused then entered the apartment, and a commotion can be observed on the balcony. The deceased is then seen exiting the apartment while bleeding profusely from the neck. He wanders back and forth and re-enters the apartment. The roommate calls 911. The police arrive and locate the victim on the balcony, without vital signs. They arrest the accused who appears mostly calm and quiet.”
Background
The details of Mr. Abdelaziz’s personal, legal, and psychiatric history are set out in detail in the Hospital Report dated January 7, 2026. Briefly summarized, Mr. Abdelaziz is 36 years of age. He was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is the third in a line of seven sons.
Mr. Abdelaziz reportedly has two other brothers which have had serious mental health issues, possibly schizophrenia.
Mr. Abdelaziz moved to Yemen in 2010 to study civil engineering but was there for only four months before the civil war started and he had to return to Saudi Arabia. In 2016, Mr. Abdelaziz flew to the United States after being granted a visa for three months and from there, in March 2017, he took a taxi to the Canadian border and crossed it alone. Mr. Abdelaziz initially stayed in Montreal for a week and then moved to Toronto where he has lived until the time of the index offences. His older brother, Mohamed, joined him three years ago in 2020 and his other brother, Majid, victim of the index offence, came approximately one year later. Mr. Abdelaziz obtained employment as a general labourer in a factory and to increase his employment prospects he decided to finish high school in Canada in adult high school and then enrolled at Centennial College to study biomedical engineering. He was in his third year at the time of his arrest in 2023.
Mr. Abdelaziz has no criminal history predating the index offences.
Mr. Abdelaziz first saw a psychiatrist in Canada in December 2022 as he was experiencing delusional thoughts and was reportedly smoking cannabis daily at that time. Mr. Abdelaziz reported “seeing versions of dirty and clean people, the Devil in people's eyes.” Records from the Michael Garron Hospital from December 2022 indicate that Mr. Abdelaziz was claiming to be able to read people’s eyes and minds and that he was not sleeping. He was put on medication. Mr. Abdelaziz had subsequent appointments at Michael Garron Hospital and eventually asked the psychiatrist if he could stop his medication and was then given permission. He discontinued treatment in April 2023 and was told to go back to emergency if he needed further treatment. Mr. Abdelaziz became symptomatic several months later and reported having further auditory and visual hallucinations. The index offence occurred on August 26, 2023.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. K. Valoo, the patient’s psychiatrist since he moved into a general unit last October, testified.
Dr. Valoo indicated that this first year under the Board has been very positive.
Mr. Abdelaziz is capable of making treatment decisions. He has been compliant with medication. The patient has expressed a willingness to continue medications indefinitely. There had been a prior instance of stopping the medications. Dr. Valoo said the patient will also have to stay away from substances. This past year has seen him having stable mental health with no signs of the re-emergence of psychotic symptoms. Mr. Abdelaziz is optimally treated.
Mr. Abdelaziz has off-ward privileges. He has engaged in several therapeutic activities this year and has benefitted from them. He has also participated in recreational activities. Mr. Abdelaziz has been on the maximum level of privileges since last September. There have been no issues with off-ward privileges. Mr. Abdelaziz has entered the community accompanied without issue.
Over the next year Dr. Valoo envisions community living on the current trajectory. Mr. Abdelaziz would need to progress through the privilege ladder including indirect passes into the community which he plans to use for religious and school purposes.
There has been no discussion about returning home. His goal is to live in the community. If eligible for community living, the process could take several more months, Mr. Abdelaziz would benefit from a high level of support in his initial placement. His self-care and proficiency, and activities of daily living requires more work.
Mr. Abdelaziz has attended some post-secondary schooling in past and is very motivated to continue.
Mr. Abdelaziz has been on a long-acting injection of antipsychotic medication since November.
According to Dr. Valoo, the risk of future violence on a Detention Order while on prescribed medication is low.
Mr. Abdelaziz’s English is very good.
The hospital would prefer that housing be approved by the person in charge. Specifying supportive housing may restrict the search.
Analysis
Mr. Abdelaziz was extremely psychotic prior to and during the index offence. Since admission, and on a long-acting injection, his mental health has been stable with no signs of psychosis. Still, there remains uncertainty regarding his underlying mental illness.
Mr. Abdelaziz regularly consumed cannabis which acted in combination with his mental illness. His family was concerned about his cannabis consumption. He has been abstinent for more than 12 months with negative tests throughout the period.
It is necessary to regularly monitor Mr. Abdelaziz’s mental health to ensure he stays away from substances, both cannabis and alcohol.
Mr. Abdelaziz has taken steps toward a structured pro-social routine. He now has an approved person who accompanies him on passes. Education is a primary goal.
Mr. Abdelaziz is relatively new to the Board. The index offence was serious and shocking, resulting in the loss of his brother. Mr. Abdelaziz is remorseful.
Significant risk to the safety of the public has been made out and the joint submission reflects the least onerous and least restrictive disposition that both protects the public and is supportive of the patient’s rehabilitation. This past year has been a very good one and supports the increase in privileges the parties seek. The Board endorses the joint submission and wishes Mr. Abdelaziz 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