Re: Thomas F. Brailsford, 2026 CanLII 53898

Re: Thomas F. Brailsford

ORB File No: 5896 Hearing held on: Friday, April 24, 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. T. Verny Dr. M. Green Ms. A. Israel Ms. K. McMillan

Parties Appearing: Accused: Thomas F. Brailsford Counsel: Mr. J.R. Collins

The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Meaney

Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. M. Feindel

REASONS FOR DISPOSITION

(Dated June 3, 2026)

Introduction

1Thomas F. Brailsford, age 65, was on June 15, 2011, found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on a charge of murder, contrary to the Criminal Code.

2On April 24, 2026, Mr. Brailsford who is subject to a detention order with privileges up to and including living in the community in 24-hour a day supported accommodation approved by the person in charge, appeared for his annual hearing before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (“CAMH” or the “hospital”). Mr. Brailsford’s sister and her husband were in attendance.

3In preliminary positions all parties supported the current Disposition which is a detention order at CAMH Forensic Services. At present, Mr. Brailsford is on a General Forensic Unit. By the conclusion of the hearing, the Board concluded that significant threat to community safety continues to be present and that the current Disposition should continue.

4Exhibit 1 was the Hospital Report dated April 2, 2026. The Board also had before it Campbell correspondence.

Diagnoses

[5] Schizophrenia in partial remission; Cannabis Use Disorder in full sustained remission.

Index Offence

6The index offence is taken from paragraph 6 of last year’s Reasons:

“On June 30, 2010, Mr. Brailsford, who had a long history of illness and treatment for schizophrenia, with symptoms including paranoia, killed his mother in a delusional belief that she was a follower of Lucifer. He called the police, and they arrived to find his mother dead, and her head severed from her body. Mr. Brailsford was arrested and was noted to be extremely compliant. He told the police what he had done and why. He also expressed an apparent delusional belief that a man in a neighbouring apartment had killed two individuals and was armed with a laser.”

Background

7A good summary of Mr. Brailsford's background is found in paragraphs 7 to 12 of last year’s Reasons:

“Mr. Brailsford's personal, legal, and psychiatric history are set out in detail in the Hospital Report. Briefly summarized, Mr. Brailsford is 64(65) years of age and was born in Toronto and raised in Clarkson, Ontario. He is the youngest in a sibline of three and has two older sisters. His parents separated when he was approximately five years old, after which he lived primarily with his mother and saw his father alternate weekends and one night per week.

Mr. Brailsford did not complete high school and stopped attending in grade 12 to take a job at Goodyear Tire where he worked for less than a year.

Mr. Brailsford reports having used hashish and/or cannabis regularly during his teens. He also experimented with harder drugs but does not appear to have had substances use issues as an adult. There have been no concerns regarding the use of alcohol or drugs since Mr. Brailsford has been under the purview of the ORB.

The Hospital Report sets out Mr. Brailsford's criminal history which includes charges of false alarm of fire mischief in 2009 and charges of assault and utter threats of death in 2010.

Mr. Brailsford’s psychiatric history goes back to 1981, after his eldest sister noticed changes in him and took him to see their family doctor. He was subsequently admitted to the Etobicoke General Hospital and continued with a day program after his discharge. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, paranoid subtype. He was initially treated with depot fluphenazine and oral chlorpromazine. His medications were changed several times under different doctors. Mr. Brailsford claims not to have been hospitalized again until 2005, when he was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The Hospital Reports sets out the details of a number of subsequent admissions to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, leading up to the index offence in 2010.”

Evidence at Hearing

8Dr. S. Darani, the patient’s psychiatrist since 2025, testified. One positive occurrence this past year is that the patient agreed to FORCAT 1:1 counseling sessions. A few sessions have taken place so far.

9According to Dr. Darani, Mr. Brailsford has been relatively stable. He continues to report auditory hallucinations including from talk radio. Low motivation continues to be present. Mr. Brailsford is generally reluctant to participate in activities; however, the 1:1 sessions are a positive sign.

10One concerning development was in an elopement on January 30, 2026. Mr. Brailsford was returned by police on January 31. When found he was at baseline. Prior to the elopement he was at level 6 passes - indirect privileges on hospital grounds for recreational reasons. As the result of the elopement Mr. Brailsford is now at level 1 passes - hospital grounds escorted by staff. Mr. Brailsford’s elopement lasted nine hours. He said it was to go shopping. On his person were two grams of cannabis. He said he was planning to use it if he felt unwell. This was a concerning incident in view of his history of relapse and could have been very problematic. The last elopement occurred in 2022. That was related to anxiety about possible discharge. There are concerns regarding self-sabotage.

11Dr. Darani acknowledged that the elopement had set back the patient’s progress.

12Mr. Collins, on behalf of the patient, emphasized that his client is low maintenance. He is relatively sedentary. He responds well to medication. His mental status is relatively stable.

Analysis

13The Board had before it a joint submission. The serious index offence history and recent elopement coupled with the presence of cannabis supported significant threat to safety. On a positive note, the agreement to engage in 1:1 sessions are proceeding. Mr. Brailsford has had to restart the privilege ladder and must avoid elopements if he is to qualify for consideration of high support housing. No changes to the disposition are necessary.