Ontario Review Board
Re: Lahedin Peci
ORB File No: 7326
Hearing held on: April 7, 2026
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby, Ontario
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein Members: Dr. K. Hand Dr. M. Kalia Hon. A. Sosna Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing: Accused: Lahedin Peci Counsel: Ms. C. E. Currie
The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Mr. L. Crowell
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated: May 1, 2026)
Introduction:
On March 27, 2018, Lahedin Peci was found not criminally responsible (NCR) on account of a mental disorder, on one count of Aggravated Assault contrary to s. 268(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Mr. Peci is currently subject to an Ontario Review Board Disposition of April 22, 2025, which orders him discharged into the community.
On April 7, 2026, a panel of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) convened an in-person hearing at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores). The issue at this hearing was whether Mr. Peci is a significant threat to public safety, as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code. If so, the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances must be determined, bearing in mind the factors enunciated in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Peci was present at the hearing and was represented by counsel, Ms. C. E. Currie.
Dr. A. Wang, Mr. Peci’s outpatient psychiatrist, testified at the hearing. Introduced into evidence was the Hospital Report, dated March 10, 2026 (Exhibit 1).
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses:
- Schizophrenia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Position of the Parties:
At the commencement of the hearing, the parties were asked for their initial without prejudice positions.
Counsel for the hospital submits that Mr. Peci is not a significant threat to the safety of the public. Accordingly, the Hospital recommends that Mr. Peci be granted an Absolute Discharge.
Counsel for Mr. Peci supports the Hospital’s position, submitting that Mr. Peci is not a significant threat to the safety of the public and should be granted an Absolute Discharge.
Counsel for the Attorney General initially opposed the granting of an Absolute Discharge and submitted that a continuation of the present Conditional Discharge is appropriate. However, counsel was open to changing her position upon hearing the evidence introduced.
Prior to closing submissions, counsel for the Attorney General advised that having heard the evidence, she now joins with the Hospital and the counsel for Mr. Peci, that Mr. Peci is not a significant threat to the safety of the public. Thus, counsel jointly recommend the granting of an Absolute Discharge.
Index Offence:
- The details surrounding the index offence are summarized from last year’s Reasons for Disposition:
On January 9, 2018 the victim (the accused’s mother) asked Mr. Peci if he needed anything to eat. He did not initially respond. After a few moments, Mr. Peci grabbed a four-inch steak knife from the kitchen area and stabbed his mother once on the left side of the chest cavity, under the breast area. Mr. Peci then left the scene, and a family member (brother) called 911.
The police responded and located the victim in the living room with a single puncture wound. She was transported to St. Michael’s Hospital.
The father and brother remained on the scene, as Mr. Peci could not initially be found.
Some time later, while the police were still on the scene, Mr. Peci returned to the building, and the officers arrested Mr. Peci and placed him in custody.
Background:
Mr. Peci is 39 years old. He is single and has no dependants. He has no previous criminal record. He was born in Albania and emigrated to Canada with his mother and younger brother in 2001. He was 13 years old. His father joined the family in 2005. Mr. Peci lived with his family in a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto up to the date of the index offence.
After arriving in Canada, Mr. Peci enrolled in grade 8 and completed the year without difficulty. However, in high school, Mr. Peci struggled with attendance, preferred to stay at home, watch television and play on the computer. He was unable to complete high school. At age 24, he attended an adult learning centre where he failed to complete the program.
Mr. Peci has no history of employment except for one job working at a restaurant when he was 21 years old. He lost the job under unknown circumstances. At the time of his arrest on the index offence, Mr. Peci was financially supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY:
According to Mr. Peci’s mother, in the fall of 2009, Mr. Peci began to exhibit bizarre behaviour. He reported that people appeared small to him. Over the next year, she observed him throwing out his clothes, tearing up papers, and wearing warm jackets in the middle of summer. By 2012, he stopped sleeping at night. To be detailed below, in 2012 and in 2014, Mr. Peci was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and later in 2014 similarly diagnosed by a community psychiatrist.
Mr. Peci was assessed as an outpatient at CAMH in 2012 by Dr. Albert Wong, a psychiatrist. Dr. Wong noted that Mr. Peci exhibited multiple psychotic symptoms, including at least one year of auditory hallucinations, grandiose delusions, and beliefs that he could communicate via telepathy. Mr. Peci was provisionally diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated with the oral antipsychotic medication olanzapine.
From December 2014 through December 2017, Mr. Peci was under the care of Dr. Walid Abouelnasr, a community psychiatrist. Dr. Abouelnsar’s diagnosis for Mr. Peci was schizophrenia as well as a possible intellectual disability. Mr. Peci was treated with anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medication, which he struggled to adhere to.
After his arrest for the index offence, Mr. Peci was assessed on January 12, 2018 by the primary care physician at the Toronto Detention Centre. The physician was struck by Mr. Peci’s “profound mental illness”. Mr. Peci was assessed by a psychiatrist the following day, whose note in part set out, “this fellow has schizophrenia …paucity of thought blunted affect…”
When assessed at the Forensic Assessment Unit (FAU) at Ontario Shores on January 24, 2018, Mr. Peci denied having a history of mental health problems, mental health symptoms, or being under the care of a psychiatrist. He denied violent ideation, auditory hallucinations, or delusional thoughts, although his behaviour suggested he was hearing voices. He had no insight into his psychiatric difficulties. He was aware that he had been prescribed medication he identified as olanzapine (an oral antipsychotic medication previously prescribed). However, he did not believe he required medication and did not understand its purpose.
EVIDENCE AT HEARING:
Pursuant to an Ontario Review Board Disposition in December 2019, Mr. Peci was discharged into the community. He currently remains discharged into the community pursuant to an Ontario Review Board Disposition dated April 22, 2025.
The Hospital Report (Exhibit 1) details Mr. Peci’s present status.
Mr. Peci is deemed incapable of making decisions related to the treatment of his illness. His brother Alvaro Peci is his substitute decision-maker in that regard. However, Mr. Peci is deemed capable of managing his finances from funds provided by the ODSP.
Since last year’s Ontario Review Board hearing, Mr. Peci has not required any readmissions to hospital. He has remained adherent to his medications, including long-acting injections. He exhibits adequate insight into his illness and need for treatment. However, he continues to have some residual symptoms, experiencing auditory hallucinations of a derogatory nature. These episodes are infrequent. Mr. Peci reports that he is able to cope and manage these symptoms when they occur.
Mr. Peci has successfully resided in the community in a group home called Home on the Range. The home provides 24-hour supervision, assisting with medication, transportation and scheduling Mr. Peci’s monthly treatment appointments. Staff describe Mr. Peci as a positive resident.
Mr. Peci is supported by his parents and brother Alvaro. Mr. Peci frequently visits his parents at home during the day and has attended several overnight visits without incident. He consistently expresses his hope to be granted an Absolute Discharge and be able to return to the family home to live there permanently.
The treatment team has met with Mr. Peci’s parents and brother to discuss their views about Mr. Peci returning to live in the family home. His brother has shared their mother’s level of anxiousness regarding being alone with Mr. Peci because of the commission of the index offence. His family acknowledges Mr. Peci’s progress, and his brother exhibits good insight into Mr. Peci’s illness. At the present time, the family feels that Mr. Peci should maintain his primary residence at Home on the Range while spending periods of time at the family home with them. Mr. Peci understands the family’s views and is satisfied to remain at Home on the Range, with hopes to return to live at the family home in the future.
CLINICAL RISK ASSESSMENT:
- A psychological risk assessment was completed on February 20, 2026 at Ontario Shores. In part, the following factors were reviewed:
Historical Risk:
The physical violence in Mr. Peci’s index offence, where he stabbed his mother, occurred in the context of active psychosis...he appeared to impulsively respond to a confused disconnect with reality. He recently indicated that the voices commanded him to harm his mother (but they did not intend for him to kill her) and this was the “first” time he had heard such voices. In addition to mental illness as predominant factor…Mr. Peci’s lower intellectual functioning, increasing social withdrawal from his parents, as well as their desire to protect and minimize his symptoms likely contributed to the rapid resurgence of psychotic symptoms….
Clinical Risk over the Last Six Months:
Mr. Peci has shown some improvement in his insight into his mental disorder and his need for treatment, and he appears more open to discussing his illness with his treatment team, compared to his previous years. He was able to identify his diagnosis as Schizophrenia and to relate his disorder to auditory hallucinations. He repeatedly expressed remorse for his actions…Regarding the benefits of his medication, Mr. Peci stated that it helps to reduce the voices; however, he expressed belief that if he were to stop medication there would be no notable change. Mr. Peci denied there is a chance he will become unwell and act violently in the future because he feels he is in better control of himself…Mr. Peci denied any bothersome side effects of treatment and stated he is content to receive medications as ordered… Mr. Peci continues to experience brief (e.g., 20 minutes) infrequent (e.g., once per month) residual auditory hallucinations…. Mr. Peci perceives voices commanding him not to speak or to move his hands. While the voices are difficult to resist, he stated that he is typically still able to continue functioning. His current symptom burden appears mild and stable, and there has been no evidence of active psychosis or disorganized thought or behaviour.
The Risk Management factors should Mr. Peci be granted an Absolute Discharge:
Currently the family and the treatment team are engaged in discussion about Mr. Peci’s reintegration into the family home, with careful planning given his history of violence and the family’s residual concerns…Mr. Peci has persevered upon housing uncertainty, and he continues to express sadness and frustration about the distance from his family. Mr. Peci has limited adaptive coping skills and mild cognitive limitations that impact his ability to handle stressors, and has historically been sensitive to changes and living situation. Were Mr. Peci to move to a new and unfamiliar environment or one with reduced oversight, structure and support, the resulting stressors may worsen his residual psychotic symptoms. On the other hand, Mr. Peci reports feeling less worried when at home with his family. Going for walks or for coffee and seeing friends within his Albanian community have also been effective coping strategies for him…
Level of Risk and Management Plan:
Mr. Peci’s risk for violent offending falls within the Low range in the imminent future when considering an Absolute Discharge…
In the context of an Absolute Discharge and return to the family home, Mr. Peci’s overall level of risk would be low provided that robust community psychiatric follow-up, consistent medication administration (including long-acting treatment) and active family monitoring are maintained…Continued structure supports, gradual transition planning, and clear relapse prevention strategies will be key to maintaining his stability and minimizing future risk. If there are any future changes in his dynamic risk factors, it will be important to revisit this risk assessment.
Analysis and Finding:
After considering the Hospital Report and the evidence of Dr. Wang, the panel finds that Mr. Peci does not presently represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.
In coming to this conclusion, the panel considered the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Winko v. British Columbia (Forensic Psychiatric Institute), 1999 CanLII 694 (SCC), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 625 (“Winko”). In that case, the Court stated that a significant threat to the safety of the public must be: more than speculative in nature and supportive by the evidence; significant, in the sense of being a “real risk of physical or psychological harm to members of the public that is serious in the sense of being beyond the merely trivial or annoying”; and the conduct giving rise to the harm must be criminal in nature. Further, the Court stated that there must be a positive finding of significant threat to the safety of the public in order to support restrictions on an accused’s liberty. Anything else, for example uncertainty, cannot suffice.
In Winko, the Supreme Court of Canada also stated that in coming to a conclusion on the issue of significant threat, a Review Board should closely examine a range of evidence including the circumstances of the original offence, the past and expected course of the accused’s treatment, the present state of the accused’s mental condition, and the accused’s own plans for the future, the support services existing for the accused in the community, and the recommendations provided by experts who have examined the accused.
The index offence in this case was serious. It occurred in the context of a sudden and violent attack by Mr. Peci on his mother in the family home, where she sustained two stab wounds to her upper chest after Mr. Peci had secured a knife from the kitchen. The attack was unprovoked. There was no history of violence or animus between Mr. Peci and his mother, who throughout Mr. Peci’s mental health history was supportive and caring. The Hospital Report notes that the stabbing occurred “in the context of active psychosis [during which Mr. Peci] appeared to impulsively respond to a confused disconnect with reality [in which] voices commanded him to harm his mother”.
Mr. Peci’s current circumstances are quite different. As noted at page 34 of the Hospital Report, which the panel accepts without reservation:
…since his discharge into the community in December 2019, [Mr. Peci] has demonstrated sustained clinical and behavioural stability. He has had no psychiatric readmissions and there have been no behavioural concerns. He has remained entirely compliant with treatment and abstinent from substances. Since August 2024, Mr. Peci has resided in a high-support Community Homes for Opportunity (CHO) residence, Home on the Range, where he benefited from structure and support of 24-hour supervision, medication and oversight…Mr. Peci adjusted well to the residence…He denies thoughts of harming others, has not demonstrated any violent behaviour since the index offence in 2018, has shown an ability to seek assistance of staff when needed and he has maintained positive relationships with his family, whom he visits regularly, and with his Albanian community.
When questioned by the panel, the Hospital advised that if Mr. Peci was granted an Absolute Discharge, he could continue to reside at Home on the Range indefinitely, pending possible permission from his parents and brother to return to reside in the family home. Mr. Peci remains hopeful that permission will be granted.
The treatment team is of the unanimous opinion that given Mr. Peci’s progress since being discharged into the community in 2019, he no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public. This accords with the joint position of counsel in which they similarly submit that Mr. Peci does not pose a significant threat to the safety of the public. Counsel jointly submit that Mr. Peci be granted an Absolute Discharge. The joint submission is not binding on the panel. However, on all the evidence, the panel has no reason to disagree with the joint submission.
For the aforementioned reasons pursuant to s. 672.54 (a) of the Criminal Code, Mr. Peci is granted an Absolute Discharge. The panel wishes Mr. Peci and his family well.
DATED this 1st day of May 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Alexander Sosna Legal Member
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board