Re: Pravin C. Anthony
ORB File No: 8042
Hearing held on: Monday, May 11, 2026
Place of hearing: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West 5th Campus, Hamilton, Ontario
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. S. Clapp
Members: Dr. J. Kis Dr. G. Nexhipi Ms. N. Nathanson Mr. S. Doherty
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Pravin C. Anthony Counsel: Ms. M. Addie
The Person-in-Charge of Hospital: Counsel: Mr. S. O’Brien
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. J. McKenzie
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 4, 2026)
Introduction:
1. On March 24, 2022, Pravin C. Anthony was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) on account of mental disorder on charges of aggravated assault and failure to appear or to comply with appearance notice (x2), contrary to the Criminal Code. He is currently subject to a Conditional Discharge Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB” or the “Board”) dated May 28, 2025.
2. On May 11, 2026, a panel of the Board convened at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus (“SJHH” or “the Hospital”) to conduct Mr. Anthony’s annual review pursuant to section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Anthony attended the hearing and was represented by counsel, Ms. Addie.
3. The Hospital Report dated April 9, 2026, was marked as Exhibit 1 at the hearing. A Victim Impact Statement from R.H. dated February 7, 2025, was marked as Exhibit 2. In addition to the documentary evidence, Mr. Anthony’s attending psychiatrist, Dr. Olubukola Kolawole, gave oral evidence.
4. The issues to be decided at the hearing were whether Mr. Anthony continues to meet the test of posing a significant threat to the safety of the public as set out in section 672.5401 of the Criminal Code, and if so, what is the necessary and appropriate Disposition, taking into account the four factors set out in section 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
Positions of the Parties:
5. At the outset of the hearing, the parties were asked for their initial positions. Mr. O’Brien, on behalf of the Hospital, took the position that Mr. Anthony remained a significant threat to the safety of the public, but that his risk could continue to be managed under the terms of a Conditional Discharge. The conditions recommended by the Hospital were the same as those in last year’s Disposition with one change, that being, the deletion of clause 1(c) to “abstain absolutely from the non-medical use of alcohol or drugs or any other intoxicant”.
6. Ms. McKenzie, counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General, supported the Hospital’s position.
7. Ms. Addie conceded the issue of significant threat to the safety of the public and joined the Hospital in its position.
8. All parties supported the joint position at the conclusion of the hearing.
Findings:
9. For the reasons that follow, the panel supported the joint position and made an independent finding that Mr. Anthony continues to represent a significant threat to public safety. The panel concluded that the necessary and appropriate Disposition, which is also the least onerous and least restrictive in the circumstances, is a Conditional Discharge with the same terms and conditions as in last year’s Disposition with the deletion of a clause 1(c) to “abstain absolutely from the non-medical use of alcohol or drugs or any other intoxicant”.
Index Offences:
10. The circumstances of the index offences are outlined in detail in the Hospital Report at pages 2-5, but were summarized in last year’s Reasons for Disposition as follows (at paragraph 9):
“Halton Police received a call on March 30, 2021 that a man, later identified as Pravin Anthony, was armed with a stick and a knife and had struck Mr. Robert Harvey with the stick and stabbed him with the knife in the abdomen. This occurred in the area of Clearview Park in Oakville. The accused was arrested a short distance from the assault, and the victim was transported to hospital where he underwent surgery to repair the wounds. The police were also advised that preceding the assault on Mr. Harvey, the accused approached Mr. Brad Warden, who was at the park with his family. The accused approached this family aggressively, swearing and swinging a stick at them.
The accused was charged on July 12th and 13th, 2020 with aggravated assault and fail to comply with a peace bond and was bound by terms of release that included “not to possess any weapons.”
He was also subject to conditions from an undertaking for the offences of mischief and disobey court order dated June 11th, 2020 which required him to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour.” In addition, he was further subject to a release order for charges of mischief and fail to comply with court order dated March 12th and 13th, 2021 which required him “to not possess any weapons.”
11. On the evening of the incident, Mr. Anthony had been located and arrested approximately 800 metres from where the victim was found. He was observed throwing a knife into a residential yard. Police recovered the knife. It had an eight-inch blade.
12. Mr. Anthony reported that he was homeless and living in a shelter at the time of the index offences. He stated that a guy was following him in the park and he heard a voice telling him to stab the guy. He claimed to have no memory of stabbing the victim. Mr. Anthony was not taking prescribed medication for his psychotic disorder at the time.
Background:
13. Mr. Anthony is a 39-year-old single man. His personal background is set out in detail in the Hospital Report and will not be repeated here. As briefly summarised in last year’s Reasons, Mr. Anthony was born in India and grew up in Dubai.
He has a twin brother and a younger sister. Mr. Anthony and his family immigrated to Canada in 2003, where he completed his final year of high school. Mr. Anthony was a competitive tennis player, and returned to India for six months following high school to play tennis. Upon his return to Canada, he attended university for three years (at two different universities) and then completed a Business Administration diploma at Sheridan College. Following that, Mr. Anthony worked as an insurance claim assistant.
Mr. Anthony’s family noticed a deterioration in his mood and behaviour when he was in his mid twenties. He quit his job, withdrew from social activities, and became reclusive to his room in the basement, watching videos and smoking cannabis regularly. He was heard yelling and talking to himself. “Out of the blue,” Mr. Anthony travelled to India to attend a music school, after pressuring his father to help cover the costs by engaging in a “hunger strike”, but he withdrew from the program after only one week. Mr. Anthony stayed with relatives in India for several months and his bizarre behaviour continued.
Upon returning to his parents’ home, Mr. Anthony became increasingly aggressive, suspicious, and angry. His cannabis consumption increased and he started drinking alcohol daily. He reportedly got into verbal and physical altercations with his brother and father, as well as people in the community, resulting in police intervention. Mr. Anthony refused his family’s efforts to obtain mental health or substance abuse treatment for him. They began to feel unsafe around him and asked him to leave their home in 2016. Mr. Anthony then became homeless and lived in shelters. There were brief periods when Mr. Anthony’s family sought to support him by allowing him back into the home; however, these periods were short-lived in light of Mr. Anthony’s continued substance use, lack of insight into his mental health condition, and continued conflict with family members.
Mr. Anthony’s parents are retired and live in Georgetown. Mr. Anthony’s siblings and their spouses also live in the family home.
Criminal History:
14. On October 5, 2021, Mr. Anthony was convicted of assault causing bodily harm and three counts of mischief under $5,000.
15. At last year’s hearing, Counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General reported that, according to the police synopsis, Mr. Anthony assaulted a stranger in a parking lot with a wooden stick causing the victim injuries. Both persons had weapons.
Psychiatric History:
16. The Hospital Report outlined Mr. Anthony’s psychiatric history prior to the index offences in detail and will not be repeated here. As summarized in last year’s Reasons, Mr. Anthony had four psychiatric admissions to various hospitals between December 2017 and November 2020. He consistently refused medication or psychiatric follow-up on discharge. On at least three of the admissions, Mr. Anthony was brought to hospital by police. The events precipitating admission included: a verbal altercation at a coffee shop that included accusing an elderly man of staring at his genitals; incidents of unspecified aggression against his parents; threatening roommates with a knife; and carrying a knife while running around outside in a verbally and physically aggressive manner. Mr. Anthony was detained in hospital involuntarily, and during three of the admissions he was treated with medication and his mental condition improved. On one occasion, Mr. Anthony refused medication and left the hospital against medical advice.
17. During the last admission from October to November 2020, Mr. Anthony was physically aggressive and required both physical and chemical restraints. He was found incapable of consenting to treatment and the Public Guardian and Trustee was his substitute decision-maker. Mr. Anthony improved with treatment and was discharged to a friend’s home with a prescription and referral to a Psychosis Disorder Clinic. He did not follow-up.
18. Following his arrest for the index offences, Mr. Anthony was in custody at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex. On May 4, 2021, he was transferred to hospital on a Form 1 due to an “acute relapse of psychosis.” The Institutional Crisis Intervention Team was required to extract him from his cell and pepper spray was used to subdue him. Mr. Anthony continued to be highly agitated and aggressive in hospital, resulting in regular administration of chemical restraints. He eventually accepted oral antipsychotic medication, and his symptoms improved enough such that he was returned to Maplehurst on May 20, 2021.
Mr. Anthony’s mental condition improved significantly under the jurisdiction of the Board. He accepted treatment with a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication, and his symptoms resolved. He was described as calm and cooperative, and kept a low profile on the unit. He attended substance use programming and did not exhibit any aggression.
Mr. Anthony was discharged to his parents’ home on November 28, 2023, and has done well since then. While his insight is described as limited, he has been adherent to medication and has not had any symptoms. He lives a sedentary and unstructured lifestyle and has had difficulties following through with employment.
The Hospital Report stated that Mr. Anthony’s diagnoses are Schizophrenia; Cannabis Use Disorder, in sustained remission; and Alcohol Use Disorder, in sustained remission. He is capable of consenting to treatment and managing his finances.
Evidence at the Hearing:
19. Dr. Kolawole has been Mr. Anthony’s attending psychiatrist for the past four years. Mr. Anthony’s mental status has remained stable throughout the past year and he had a positive year. He has been compliant with all appointments, reporting twice per month, once in person and once virtually.
20. Mr. Anthony resides with his parents, brother and sister-in-law and their young child. In December, Mr. Anthony was offered a place at Emmaus Place, a transitional rehabilitation housing facility. However, he declined, preferring to remain living with his family. He is on a years long waitlist for subsidized housing and he is content to remain in the family home in the meantime.
21. Mr. Anthony successfully travelled to India with his family to receive dental surgery and to visit family, and is planning a second trip. The treatment team had no concerns about the trip.
22. Mr. Anthony found full time employment in December as a Car Jockey, after an extensive search and with the assistance of STRIDE employment services. Prior to this, he volunteered one day per week at a Food Bank in Hamilton. He also completed a one-day forklift training and later, First Aid and CPR training. The job provides him with structure, and he is very relieved to have found employment and is enjoying it. He is managing his finances well.
23. A full Risk Assessment was completed in March 2025 concluding that Mr. Anthony’s risk for violence over the 2025 reporting year was considered to be low with the oversight of the terms of a Conditional Discharge. A recent review found this assessment to be valid for this reporting year.
24. This year, there have been no incidents of violence or aggression. Mr. Anthony has been abstinent from substances and has expressed an intention to remain so. Dr. Kolawole said that removing the abstinence clause while maintaining the testing requirement will give Mr. Anthony an opportunity to demonstrate that he is internally motivated to remain abstinent.
25. Mr. Anthony is capable of consenting to treatment. He has been adherent to his medication, taking a long-acting injection (LAI) every twelve weeks and Abilify on his own, orally. When asked, Dr. Kolawole stated that it may be possible for Mr. Anthony to discontinue the Abilify and remain stable but Dr. Kolawole would not test this when Mr. Anthony was starting a new job. He may consider it at a point closer to Mr. Anthony’s transition to the civil mental health system.
26. The Hospital Report indicated that Mr. Anthony’s parents required ongoing education about the nature of Mr. Anthony’s illness and the need for ongoing medication. In his oral evidence, Dr. Kolawole explained that although the family was very supportive and understood Mr. Anthony’s current need for medication, they have asked questions about how long he will need medication. This is not an uncommon question, and education will continue to be provided.
27. Dr. Kolawole stated that Mr. Anthony’s insight has improved but there are areas that require support. Mr. Anthony understands that he is doing well because he is taking his medication and abstaining from substances, and he has a clear understanding of what could happen if he discontinues his medications. However, he often requires prompting to engage meaningfully in discussions about his illness and long-term planning.
28. Over the coming year, the plan is to reduce the frequency of reporting to once per month or less, from the current twice monthly regime. Further, Mr. Anthony will be referred to the civil mental health system with the goal of a gradual transition to the civil system and out of the forensic system, if he continues along the current positive trajectory.
29. Dr. Kolawole stated that, at present, Mr. Anthony remains a significant risk to the safety of the public. Without the oversight of the ORB, Mr. Anthony is at high risk of discontinuing medication, taking substances, decompensating and re-offending. The Hospital Report highlighted areas of vulnerability including limited insight, reliance on external structure, and the relatively recent transition to full-time employment. A Conditional Discharge with its mandated terms provides an external framework for managing his risk. If Mr. Anthony were to relapse and start to decompensate, the current framework would provide the treatment team with the ability to quickly intervene proactively.
Submissions:
30. Mr. O’Brien maintained the Hospital’s position that a Conditional Discharge was necessary and appropriate, and noted that this will only be Mr. Anthony’s second year under a Conditional Discharge. He supported the removal of clause 1(c) requiring abstention from substances. The removal of the clause will demonstrate whether Mr. Anthony has the internal motivation to remain off substances and will help to determine whether he is ready for an Absolute Discharge.
31. Ms. McKenzie emphasized that the Index Offences involved serious violence, and that Mr. Anthony’s background included other violent acts. She acknowledged that he had a positive year and supported the proposed next steps as recommended by the Hospital.
32. Ms. Addie congratulated Mr. Anthony for a positive year and supported the Hospital’s position.
Analysis and Conclusions:
33. After consideration of the evidence, the panel unanimously finds that Mr. Anthony continues to represent a significant threat to public safety. In the absence of ORB oversight, Mr. Anthony is at risk of discontinuing medication, taking substances, decompensating and reoffending. Mr. Anthony has a significant history of repeated non-compliance with medication resulting in aggressive and assaultive behaviours. The Index Offences involved serious violence while Mr. Anthony was not taking medication. Based on his history, and trajectory under the jurisdiction of the Board, he remains a significant risk.
34. Mr. Anthony needs to demonstrate solid internal motivation to remain adherent to medication and abstain from substances and further develop his insight to reduce his risk. Based on the evidence, he appears to be on the path to doing so. He has had a very successful year. He adhered to medication, remained abstinent, found employment and travelled with his family. However, his ability to maintain stability with employment and decreased supervision has not yet been fully tested.
35. The panel accepts the joint position that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Conditional Discharge with the conditions as in the Disposition dated May 28, 2025 with the exception of the removal of clause 1(c) requiring abstention from substances. Removal of the abstention clause will allow Mr. Anthony to demonstrate his ability to remain abstinent without a mandated condition. Continuing the testing for substances will permit the Hospital to monitor his progress. This will enable the Hospital to manage his risk carefully while monitoring him through a gradual reduction of oversight and transition.
36. In making this Disposition, the panel took into consideration the Victim Impact Statement submitted into evidence that outlined the lingering impacts of the Index Offence on the Victim, R. H.
37. Mr. Anthony is discharged subject to the same conditions as last year with the only change being the deletion of clause 1 (c) regarding the abstention from drugs and alcohol.
DATED this 4th day of June 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. N. Nathanson Legal Member Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board