Re: Massimo Alonzi
ORB File No: 8944
Hearing held on: Friday, May 1, 2026
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Goldenberg
Members: Dr. P. Prendergast Dr. M. Mamak Ms. J. Ferguson Mr. T. Wall
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Massimo Alonzi Counsel: Mr. J. Berman
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. M. Feindel
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated May 11, 2026)
On December 22, 2025, Massimo Alonzi was found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder on a charge of second-degree murder.
The trial judge issued a Warrant of Committal directing Mr. Alonzi to be detained “at CAMH or another forensic hospital pending the Ontario Review Board’s initial hearing.”
We note that in December 2024, the Court had issued a Keep Fit Order directing Mr. Alonzi to be detained at CAMH pending his initial disposition hearing. We understand that early in 2025, Mr. Alonzi was transferred to CAMH and has remained in CAMH since that date.
As a result, on Friday, May 1, 2026, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at CAMH and conducted Mr. Alonzi’s initial Disposition hearing.
Position of the Parties
We first note that Mr. Alonzi’s parents and sister were present at today’s hearing.
Ms. Warner appeared for CAMH. She advised of the hospital’s position that Mr. Alonzi remains a significant threat to public safety, and if the Board so finds, the hospital is recommending that Mr. Alonzi be detained at the General Forensic Unit at CAMH with certain privileges and prohibitions.
Mr. Feindel appeared for the Attorney General. He supported the hospital’s recommendation in its entirety. Mr. Feindel pointed out that in the Hospital Report setting out potential privileges there were not any privileges relating to approved persons. Ms. Warner acknowledged that omission and advised that a number of privileges should be available with Mr. Alonzi being accompanied by an approved person.
Mr. Berman appeared for Mr. Alonzi. He advised that the parties were making a joint recommendation. Mr. Berman acknowledged and accepted that at the present time his client remains a significant threat to public safety and at the present time the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order with the privileges and prohibitions requested by the hospital.
Index Offence
- “On Thursday April 18th, 2024, at approximately 2:07pm the Toronto Police Service received a call from Linda ALONZI (mother of Massimo Alonzi) Linda told the call-taker her son, Massimo, had stabbed her father-in-law. Uniform officers attended 166 Princess Anne Court in the City of Toronto. First responding officers located the accused Massimo ALONZI who had violently assaulted his grandfather, Antonio ALONZI with a shovel. Antonio was suffering from multiple stab wounds and significant trauma. Antonio's injuries were so severe he was pronounced deceased due to obvious signs of death. The accused was arrested for second degree murder, read his rights to counsel and transported to 22 Division where he was held for a show cause hearing. Linda ALONZI advised shortly before she called 911, she heard 3 loud bangs from within her home, 166 Princess Anne Court. Linda believing her father-in-law, Antonio had fallen attended Antonio's room and observed Massimo exiting the room holding a knife. Fearing for her safety Linda and her husband fled the home and called 911. Upon arrival of officers, Massimo was located covered in blood.”
Evidence at Hearing
The Board admitted into evidence a number of documents, most of which had been filed in the court proceedings. The admitted documents included an Agreed Statement of Facts dated December 9, 2025, various Hospital Reports and finally, the CAMH Hospital Report of April 16, 2026. As all of these documents were made exhibits in this hearing, it is not necessary to reproduce the information contained in the Hospital Report in these Reasons.
We do note, however, the stated diagnoses of:
Schizophrenia;
Substance Use Disorder (alcohol and cannabis), currently in remission in a controlled environment.
In addition to the documentary evidence the Board heard from Dr. Ben Chan.
Dr. Chan is a Resident in the Forensic Program at CAMH. He advised that he has been following Mr. Alonzi since January of 2026. As noted, as a result of the Keep Fit Order, Mr. Alonzi had been transferred to CAMH early in 2025. Originally Mr. Alonzi was detained in the Assessment Unit at CAMH but on May 22, 2025, Mr. Alonzi was transferred to a General Forensic Unit at CAMH.
We note the following from the Hospital Report:
“Mr. Alonzi remained on the general forensic unit during this reporting period. There were no notable or concerning incidents. There were no episodes of violence. He did not require seclusion. He maintained a good rapport with the team.”
- Dr. Chan also directed the panel to the following statement in the Hospital Report:
“In terms of his mental health, Mr. Alonzi remained stable. Mr. Alonzi did not report any recurrent psychotic symptoms or delusional content. He was not observed to be responding to any internal stimuli. He was organized and goal-directed.”
Dr. Chan repeated that Mr. Alonzi was not displaying any symptoms of his mental illness. He has not been in any way aggressive in hospital. His conduct has been appropriate, and he remains cooperative. The clinical team believes he is capable of making treatment decisions.
On the unit, Mr. Alonzi attends a number of programs including one related to healthy relationship and another program providing education about the forensic system.
Dr. Chan also noted that Mr. Alonzi is an accomplished guitar player. He has a guitar with him in hospital, and he frequently spends time playing his guitar.
Dr. Chan noted that Mr. Alonzi is “well supported” by his family. They attend at hospital for visits approximately twice each week.
Dr. Chan noted that Mr. Alonzi has a history of substance use but there has been no evidence concerning substance use in the hospital. In addition, Mr. Alonzi frequently states that he has no intention of returning to substance use in the future.
Dr. Chan noted that originally Mr. Alonzi’s insight was not robust. It has improved significantly over the past number of months. Dr. Chan repeated that Mr. Alonzi’s relationship with the clinical team remains excellent. The hospital has no concerns about Mr. Alonzi acting out in an aggressive manner.
Dr. Chan noted that the clinical team finds that this patient remains a significant threat to public safety. He has a major mental illness. In addition, there is a history of cannabis use and a history of suffering from stress and an inability to deal with stressors.
Dr. Chan advised the panel about the privilege ladder at CAMH. The Board understands that there are nine levels of privileges. Dr. Chan noted that it generally takes about one month of successful use of the initial privilege before the patient would advance to the second stage. Generally, a patient will take about one month of appropriate use of privileges before he or she would advance to the next level of privileges.
Dr. Chan repeated that Mr. Alonzi’s family members are an “incredible positive support.” Finally, Dr. Chan noted that it would be a number of months before family members could become approved persons.
In response to questions from Mr. Feindel, Dr. Chan acknowledged that historically Mr. Alonzi had problems with anger and an occasional use of assaultive conduct in large part flowing from his inability to manager his anger.
Again, in response to questions from Mr. Feindel, Dr. Chan noted that his patient is no longer experiencing any Capgras delusions.
Again, in response to questions from Mr. Feindel, Dr. Chan advised that Mr. Alonzi is not suffering any side effects from his medication other than the fact that Mr. Alonzi has put on considerable weight. Finally, Dr. Chan stated that Mr. Alonzi does on occasion display negative symptoms of his illness.
A member of the panel asked Dr. Chan about his understanding of Mr. Alonzi’s goals. Dr. Chan believes that Mr. Alonzi has some interest in improving his education and some interest in future employment.
In response to questions from another panel member, Dr. Chan advised that he has been able to discuss the events of the index offence with Mr. Alonzi. Mr. Alonzi accepts that it was “a catastrophic event.” Dr. Chan believed that Mr. Alonzi would benefit with 1:1 counselling respecting this issue.
In response to a question from another member, Dr. Chan noted that music therapy is available to this patient. Dr. Chan repeated that Mr. Alonzi frequently plays his guitar on the unit.
No other evidence was heard at this hearing.
Before proceeding with the final submissions, the Alternate Chair asked Ms. Warner whether the proposed Disposition would permit overnight privileges, and if not, would the hospital give any consideration to including overnight privileges as part of Mr. Alonzi’s Disposition.
Ms. Warner advised that the current proposed terms of the Disposition would not permit overnight passes and noted that the hospital is not recommending any form of overnight passes. We note, of course, that the hospital’s recommendation does not include a term of community living.
Mr. Feindel noted that the parties were making a joint recommendation and felt that it was inappropriate for the Alternate Chair to raise this issue at the end of the hearing.
Mr. Berman noted that Ms. Warner had stated that in the event the hospital concluded that the necessary and appropriate Disposition could include overnight passes the hospital would have no hesitation in seeking an early hearing. Mr. Berman noted that position stated by Ms. Warner and did not see the need to make any submissions beyond the joint recommendation put forward by the parties.
Final Submissions
Ms. Warner noted that the parties were making a joint recommendation. Ms. Warner asked the panel to accept Dr. Chan’s evidence and the evidence contained in the Hospital Report. Ms. Warner emphasized that this patient is doing very well. This patient benefitted from the court ordered Keep Fit Order and was able to move from the Assessment Unit to a General Forensic Unit in large part because of his early arrival at CAMH.
Mr. Feindel joins in the joint recommendation and does not support any overnight privileges as part of the Disposition.
As indicated, Mr. Berman joins in the joint recommendation and also is not asking for the panel to include overnight passes.
Findings of the Board
The Board accepts the evidence of Dr. Chan and the evidence contained in the Hospital Report. In particular, we accept that Mr. Alonzi remains a significant threat to public safety as that term is used in the jurisprudence.
We note the serious nature of the index offence and that the index offence occurred relative recently. We accept further that a Detention Order is necessary and appropriate. The panel accepts the hospital’s position with respect to potential privileges and on the evidence, we do not think it would be appropriate at this time to include any overnight passes.
In the result, the Board will issue a Detention Order directing detention on a General Forensic Unit with the privileges and prohibitions as recommended by the hospital and as set out in the Hospital Report.
In reaching our Disposition, the Board has taken into consideration public safety, Mr. Alonzi’s mental condition and his other needs, and Mr. Alonzi’s reintegration into society.
DATED this 11th day of May, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. J. Goldenberg Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board