Re: Omar Watson
ORB File No: 8690
Hearing held on: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. C. Fromstein
Members: Dr. J. Kis
Dr. A. Kerry
Hon. N. Kozloff
Mr. S. Doherty
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Omar Watson
Counsel: Ms. L. Leinveer
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Feindel
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated May 13, 2026)
Introduction
On November 5, 2024, Mr. Omar Watson was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) on account of mental disorder on charges of assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon (x2), and utter threat, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. He is currently subject to his initial Ontario Review Board Disposition (“ORB” or “Board”) dated April 9, 2025, detaining him at the Forensic Service of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH” or “hospital”), with privileges extending to enter the community of the Greater Toronto Area, indirectly supervised.
On April 8, 2026, this panel of the Board convened at CAMH to conduct the annual review of Mr. Watson’s Disposition. Mr. Watson was present and represented by counsel Ms. L. Leinveer. The purpose of the hearing was to determine if Mr. Watson is a significant threat to the safety of the public and, if so, to create a Disposition that is necessary and appropriate.
Position of the Parties
- At the outset of the hearing the parties were canvassed as to their initial positions. Ms. Warner indicated the hospital position is to maintain the same detention order Disposition with the addition of the privilege of community living in the GTA in approved accommodation, with reporting not less than once per week when residing in the community. Mr. Feindel expressed the Crown’s support. Ms. Leinveer expressed her client’s support and his additional request that a travel provision for up to two weeks travel with an approved itinerary be added.
Index Offences
- The circumstances of the index offences are set out in last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows:
“Synopsis 1
COUNT 1: Assault with a Weapon, section 267(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada COUNT 2: Assault with a Weapon, section 267(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada
On Sunday, December 17th, 2023, the complainant contacted police to report that two security guards were stabbed by a patient with a sharpened toothbrush.
Police attended Brampton Civic Hospital and spoke with the two victims, Jaskaran Gosal and Krish Sharma. Police discovered that at 6:30am, security received a call from the mental health ward to restrain the accused. Several security guards attended the mental health ward, in an attempt to restrain the accused. The security guards were aware that the suspect was in possession of a toothbrush, and a plan was made to safely restrain the suspect with minimal injury.
When security entered the room with the accused, the accused began to stab the two security guards with the toothbrush. Krish Sharma was stabbed in the left eye, causing swelling, his injuries are considered minor. Jaskaran Gosal was stabbed three to four times on his head causing an open wound on top his head. Jaskaran also sustained scratches to his face, his injuries are also considered minor. The victims received medical attention for their injuries.
On Tuesday, December 19th, 2023, police attended Brampton Civic Hospital located at 2100 Bovaird Drive, in the city of Brampton. At approximately 9:20pm, the accused was placed under arrest for two counts of assault with a weapon, section 267(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. The accused was read his rights to counsel and caution of which he understood.
Synopsis 2
Charge: Assault Causing Bodily Harm Section: 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada
Incident:
On Friday April 19th, 2024, at 11: 10 am, Brampton Civic Hospital contacted police to report that a patient in Mental Health Ward Intensive Care unit has assaulted Registered Nurse, Tameka Setalsingh (1982-10-17), by stomping on her head. Security advised that the patient name will be Omar Watson with a date of birth of February 2nd, 1981. Security further advised that Omar is currently in Intensive unit under restraints.
At 2:50 pm, police spoke with Brampton Civic Hospital Security Guard to review the CCTV footage and observed the following:
At 10:13:03 am Registered Nurse Tameka speaking to another staff and a patient and Omar Watson can be observed exiting his room (N-1-131). Upon exiting Omar immediately directed his attention towards Tameka and aggressively lunged towards her with his right hand clenched and in a ready position to throw a punch.
At 10:13:05 am Omar made contact with Tameka with his right hand, punching her in the face, and resulting with her falling to the ground. As Tameka fell on to the ground, Omar was being held by another staff to separate the two parties.
At 10:13:06 am, while Omar was being held, he can be observed stomping Tameka with his left foot once, directed towards her face while she was on the ground.
At 10:13:15 am, Brampton Security guards arrived on scene and was able to restrain Omar and return him back to his room.
Police spoke with Dr. Charles Ohena-Darkoh (1970-06-14) and advised that he is the Doctor assigned to Omar and he will now be terminating Omar's stay in the Hospital. Dr. Charles Ohena-Darkoh further advised that Omar's level of aggression towards Brampton Civic Hospital staff can no longer be managed in a general hospital setting and recommends a high secure facility.
At 3:33 pm, Dr. Charles Ohena-Darkoh provided to police Omar's termination papers and release documents from the hospital.
At 3:43 am, police spoke with Tameka Setalsingh who advised that she was conducting her general duties as a Registered Nurse and was administering medications to her patients. Tameka further advised that Omar attacked her out of nowhere and stated that she was punched in the face approximately 2 times with a closed fist. Tameka then advised that after that, all that she could remember was falling to the ground with her nose bleeding and getting stomped in the face by Omar.
The victim suffered heavy loss of blood resulting to her feeling lightheaded and a concussion.”
Evidence at the Hearing
The evidence at the hearing was comprised of the hospital report, exhibit 1 and the testimony of Dr. Choptiany.
Mr. Watson’s personal history is detailed in the hospital report so need not be repeated. Briefly summarized, he is currently 45 years of age. He was born and raised in Jamaica and then moved at age 16 to live with his father in New York City and subsequently moved to Toronto at age 18. He graduated from high school and has been employed as a mechanic and then as a forklift operator. He has no criminal record although he faced charges in 2007 for theft and robbery and in 2008 for failing to appear in court.
Mr. Watson’s diagnoses are Schizophrenia and Cannabis User Disorder (in sustained remission) Mr. Watson’s first hospitalization for mental disorder took place when he was twenty-one years of age. This was followed by multiple admissions.
It is reported that he was not medically adherent in the past. He is now taking medication and has greatly improved. However, he has no insight into his illness, the need for treatment or the risk of substance use to his mental health.
Mr. Watson was able to transition from the Secure to the General forensic unit in Marh 2026. His medication regimen was changed from oral to Trinza injections every 12 weeks. Unfortunately, he developed side effects of gynecomastia.
Dr. Choptiany testified that he was Mr. Watson’s attending psychiatrist on the Secure Forensic Unit. Following Mr. Watson’s transfer to the General Forensic Unit his care has been transferred to Dr. Meng. Dr. Choptiany spoke with Dr. Meng in preparation for the hearing. Everything has gone well in the transition. Mr. Watson has achieved level 7 privileges which allow him access to the community indirectly supervised. He has begun looking at employment opportunities. Mr. Watson has shown mental stability with no psychosis or aggression and has not engaged in substance use.
Because Mr. Watson is experiencing side effects from his Palperidone medication received by injection every 3 months there is consideration to change back to a monthly injection of another medication. Mr, Watson is capable of making treatment decisions and has agreed. It has been recommended to Mr. Watson that he receive oral medication in small doses to reduce hormonal changes but to date Mr. Watson has declined.
Mr. Watson has been stable for the past year on medication. He has been highly engaged in programming. The goals for the upcoming year include supporting his ongoing stability while dealing with the medication change and supporting Mr. Watson in his reintegration through employment. Mr. Watson is applying for his fiancé to become an approved person. The team is in contact with her and with his family. Mr. Watson resided with his fiancé before the index offence and worked as a forklift operator. He enjoys good family support, from his mother, uncle and cousin in addition to his fiancé.
Mr. Watson still has limited insight regarding his psychotic symptoms and those at the time of the index offence. He says he was not psychotic – he was upset, contrary to other information.
Mr. Watson has had an exemplary year of stability and is expected to achieve level 9 passes with employment on the general FU. The team will have to assess appropriate housing options that are acceptable to Mr. Watson and supportive of his ongoing stability, particularly considering that the transition will provide access to substances. Dr. Choptiany indicated that each transition carries destabilizing potential. For that reason, a Detention Order is necessary to ensure swift action if needed. Dr. Choptiany indicated that he would not be opposed to the inclusion of the travel privileges requested by the defence. Granting of the privilege would require assessment by the team and steps to ensure there is an adequate safety plan in place. Part of the team’s concern is based on Mr. Watsons extensive history of hospital admissions between 2002 and 2024 and history of becoming unwell following discharge.
It is regrettable that the 3-month injectable medication resulted in side effects which necessitate a change to the same medication monthly dosing. While this may not resolve the side effects it will give the team time to assess the situation. Mr. Watson has refused to take oral medication. He also maintains his view that he would be the same without medication and indicates that he takes the medication only because he is ordered to do so and that he will continue in the future because it is prescribed. His insight is poor when he is unwell and, in the past, he was found to be incapable. Insight has been ongoing factor and may need future reassessment.
Mr. Watson does not believe that cannabis use impacts his symptoms. While the team has not seen Mr. Watson under the influence of substances his history indicates that his prior use did negatively impact his mental health. Mr. Watson has not expressed the desire to use cannabis and has not done so despite having ground privileges which would provide him with the opportunity to do so.
Medication change can be a destabilizing factor. The team recommended Abilify to counter the prolactin side effects of enlarged breast tissue, but Mr. Watson was adamant that he did not want oral medication. Medication adherence and abstinence are externally motivated to a significant extent. For that reason, urine testing is a necessary term of the Disposition.
In the upcoming year Mr. Watson’s use of passes will be assessed, and the team will be looking at housing options.
Submissions
Counsel for the Hospital submitted that Mr. Watson has had a very positive year, with very positive engagement and medication compliance. His mental status has been stable, and Mr. Watson has been very engaged in programming. This allowed for his move to the General Forensic Unit in the past month. The disposition should recognize this progress and afford him the opportunity for further gains in rehabilitation and reintegration. The hospital therefore supports the inclusion in the Disposition of community living in approved accommodation. The next step is to increase Mr. Watson’s use of passes and then plan for community discharge. The detention order is necessary so that the hospital can investigate and approve appropriate accommodation at the crucial juncture of his transferring into the community. This Disposition will allow also for the ability to return Mr. Watson to hospital if concerns arise. The clinical team will pay close attention to supporting Mr. Watson in maintaining his stability. The hospital requests that community living encompass the GTA to mirror his pass privileges and to allow for a greater radius than just the City of Toronto. Reporting not less than once per week is requested. Ms. Warner did not have instructions from the Hospital regarding Mr. Watson’s request for travel provision. If granted by the Board, it will be important that the travel provision require approval of an itinerary and possibly that travel only be in the company of an approved person.
Mr. Feindel on behalf of the Crown adopted the submissions of the hospital and commended Mr. Watson on his move to General Forensic unit. He did not, however, support the inclusion of the travel provision. Mr. Watson has not transitioned to community living and has only recently moved to the General forensic unit. Mr. Feindel submitted that the Board requires more evidence to support adding travel to the Disposition, which has not been provided. The Board does not have evidence to be in a position to judge the merits of the request or what would satisfy public safety.
Ms. Lainveer on behalf of her client submitted that Mr. Watson is goal oriented and hopes to be transitioned to the community to be closer to his fiancé and family and to obtain employment. He has been compliant with medication notwithstanding the side effects and is willing to work with the team. He is reticent about oral medication. He has been using increased passes well and there have been no concerns about substance use. He does not object to the inclusion of urine testing in the Disposition. Mr Watson wants to work towards his goal of community living. She submitted that the lack of detail about the travel should not foreclose the possibility. The hospital will have the opportunity to decide if it is appropriate. Mr. Watson has shown that he is motivated to pursue liberty by doing everything asked of him by the hospital. Travel would be another positive motivator.
Analysis and Conclusion
The Board is unanimous in finding Mr. Watson represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. While that is the joint position of all parties, we reach that conclusion independently based on the evidence before us. Mr. Watson engaged in very violent and relatively recent offences. He has a history of medication non-adherence and of substance use. Much of his insight is externally motivated.
The addition of the privilege of community living recognizes Mr. Watson’s present stability. We find, however, that there is insufficient evidence to support the inclusion of a travel provision at this time. The requirement of reporting not less than once per week also makes travel for two weeks unrealistic. The transition to the community will bring stressors. It will be important to assess how Mr. Watson manages that transition before adding travel privileges. We encourage Mr. Watson to discuss his plans for requested travel with his treatment team in the upcoming year.
For these reasons we accept the joint submission of expanding Mr. Watson’s Detention Order Disposition to include the privilege of residing in the community of the GTA in approved accommodation and when residing in the community to report to the hospital not less than once per week.
We congratulate Mr. Watson for the progress he has made in the past year, including working with his team, being medication compliant and abstaining from substance use. We hope that he will continue on this positive path towards employment and further successful reintegration with the support of his treatment providers and family.
We make this Disposition in consideration of the primary factor of protection of public safety, Mr. Watsons’s mental condition, his reintegration into society and his personal needs.
DATED this 13^th^ day of May, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. C. Fromstein
Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board