Ontario Review Board
Re: Faraz Razaghi
ORB File No: 6820
Hearing held on: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. G. Beasley
Members: Dr. Y. Alatishe Dr. L. Leong Ms. J. Ferguson Mr. W. Apted
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Faraz Razaghi Counsel: Ms. C.E. Currie
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. D. Brandes
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 3, 2026)
Introduction
On September 9, 2015, Faraz Razaghi was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) on account of mental disorder on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, contrary to the Criminal Code, (the “Code”).
On May 6, 2026, the Board convened a hearing, pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Code to conduct the annual review of the current Disposition. Mr. Razaghi was present and represented by counsel.
The issues before the Board are whether Mr. Razaghi continues to pose a significant risk to the safety of the public, and if so, what is the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage that risk having regard to the criteria set out in s. 672.54 of the Code.
The parties jointly submitted that Mr. Razaghi no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public and therefore is entitled to an absolute discharge.
For the reasons that follow the Board finds that Mr. Razaghi has not met the threshold of significant risk and therefore granted him an absolute discharge.
Evidentiary Record
- Dr. Jaiswal co-authored the Hospital Report dated, March 30, 2026, and testified on behalf of the hospital. No further evidence was adduced at the hearing.
Background
Mr. Razaghi’s personal and psychiatric history, including the details of his mental disorder and treatment since being found NCR, are described in detail in the Hospital Report. Briefly, Mr. Razaghi is 42 years of age, divorced with no dependents. He has resided with his parents in the community since February 2017. He was discharged on conditions following his annual review in 2023.
Mr. Razaghi is financially supported by Ontario Disability Support Program (“ODSP”) and his parents. He completed university in Iran and has a degree in architecture. He is also an accomplished artist and musician. Mr. Razaghi works with his father in their family-owned construction business. He travels domestically and internationally in accordance with the privileges of his Disposition.
Mr. Razaghi’s current diagnoses are Schizoaffective Disorder, and Cannabis Use Disorder, in sustained remission.
Index Offences
The circumstances surrounding the index offence are taken from last years Reasons as follows: Mr. Razaghi was involved an argument that developed into a physical altercation between Mr. Razaghi and his father. During the course of the altercation Mr. Razaghi grabbed a knife and began stabbing his father in the chest and back. He then proceeded to stab himself and cut his own throat. Mr. Razaghi’s father sustained numerous stab wounds to his neck, chest and back, defensive slash wounds to his arms and collapsed lungs. Mr. Razaghi sustained self- inflicted puncture wound to his abdomen and a superficial cut to his throat.
Mr. Razaghi had no criminal history before he committed the index offences. Following his arrest Mr. Razaghi was taken to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He was treated for his injuries and assessed as suffering from possible mild delirium and a psychotic disorder.
Diagnoses
- Mr. Razaghi has the following diagnoses:
a) Schizoaffective Disorder
b) Cannabis Use Disorder, in sustained remission
Evidence
- The following evidence was set out in the Hospital Report with respect to the last reporting year:
CAMH: April 2025 to March 2026
Mr. Razaghi had a positive year overall. He continued to reside with his parents in their family home. He reported an absence of substance use, including cannabis and alcohol, and his clinical status in this regard was consistent with his self-report. There were no episodes of active psychotic or manic symptoms, and he did not evidence residual psychotic symptoms. Additionally, there were no concerning behaviours including aggression or violence during the reporting year.
Mr. Razaghi received psychiatric follow up with Dr. Fleiman. Most recently, he saw her on March 4, 2026. She described him as “stable, asymptomatic” with “no acute safety risk.” He was noted to be capable with respect to treatment decisions. His psychotropic medications, as prescribed by Dr. Fleiman, remained unchanged, including an every 12-week 350mg injectable dose of paliperidone and 600mg oral lithium nightly. He received the long-acting injectable antipsychotic at the Humber River Hospital injection clinic, with the last dose dispensed on March 11, 2026. The most recent lithium level, on January 22, 2026, was 0.81mmol/L. Prior to that, a lithium level conducted on October 17, 2025, was 0.85mmol/L. He maintained adherence to treatment during the reporting year. There were no missed appointments with the injection clinic. Additionally, the lithium was delivered by his pharmacy to his residence. His parents endorsed that he maintained adherence to the oral medication.
In terms of physical health, Mr. Razaghi underwent a nephrology consultation around October 2025 for concerns around elevated albuminuria (increase protein levels in the urine), which was thought by his family doctor to be due to lithium therapy. On subsequent follow-up, his nephrologist opined that this was not the case and lab work evidenced a declining urine albumin level. It was also noted that his family physician initiated an anti-hypertensive (candesartan) that may affect kidney function when prescribed with lithium. Consequently, his nephrologist prescribed amlodipine for hypertension, with the aim of avoiding anti-hypertensive medications that may affect kidney function when prescribed in conjunction with lithium.
Mr. Razaghi maintained independence with respect to activities of daily living (ADLs). This included maintaining his room, doing his laundry, going grocery shopping, and occasionally preparing meals. He supported his father’s construction work until their project ended in January 2026. Thereafter, he continued to assist his father as needed and spent his free time reading, walking, and playing the guitar.
Mr. Razaghi’s social support primarily entailed his parents who remained involved in his care. He social network also included his brother and extended family.
The FOPS team-maintained communication with Dr. Fleiman. This included obtaining her input on the FOPS team’s proposed safety plan. Additionally, on February 5, 2026, she communicated with the FOPS team that, to her knowledge, there were no ‘no shows’ for appointments with her and at the Humber River Hospital injection clinic. As well, there were “no significant concerns” pertaining to her rapport with Mr. Razaghi.
During the reporting year, the FOPS team began developing a safety or crisis prevention plan with Mr. Razaghi and his parents. This included Mr. Razaghi and his parents identifying early warning signs pertaining to mental state decompensations, contacts of service providers they can reach out to in the context of concerns, and information pertaining to crisis supports and how to obtain a Form 2. This safety plan was most recently reviewed with Mr. Razaghi and his family on February 25, 2026.
On February 26, 2026, the FOPS team held a case conference with the hospital about proposing a potential absolute discharge during the upcoming annual hearing. Following the case conference, all agreed that an absolute discharge recommendation was appropriate.
When exploring Mr. Razaghi’s insight into medication on December 2, 2025, he indicated that he would only adjust doses of his psychotropic treatment based on Dr. Fleiman’s suggestions. When asked if he had plans to stop medications, he responded, “No… because I don’t have too much medication… I also know the effect of the paliperidone is better than the side effects.”
Mr. Razaghi’s insight was explored on February 11, 2026. When asked if he would stop taking the antipsychotic injection in the context of an absolute discharge, he responded, “No. I don’t have too much medication. I am on the injection and I am used to getting lithium. I notice that if I don’t get the injection, I know what happens for me, like the past, my mood would be changed and my thought will be changed.” He added, “I don’t have a problem with Dr. Fleiman, with the injection and the medication.” With respect to what he would do in the context of concerns pertaining to medication side effects, he stated, “I will let the Humber River Hospital doctor to know about the situation and to discuss directly with my family doctor.” With respect to substance use in the event of an absolute discharge, Mr. Razaghi responded, “I am not into drugs for many years, for 10 years. I am scared to use drugs because of the effects, the interaction with the medication, and the feeling I get from the drugs.”
MENTAL STATUS EXAMINATION (March 2026)
Mr. Razaghi presented as calm and unagitated. He was kempt and appropriately dressed. There was no agitation. He evidenced a speech that was normal in rate, rhythm, and volume. His mood wand affect were euthymic. There were no self-harm or violent ideations. He reported no perceptual disturbances or delusions. His thought form and behaviours were organized. He maintained a good insight with respect to previous experience of psychotic and mood symptoms, the role of treatment, and need to abstain from psychoactive substance use was good.
Composite Assessment of Risk
Accounting the risk and protective factors based on the assessment using the HCR-20 V3 and the SAPROF, Mr. Razaghi’s risk for violent re-offending falls in the low range in the context of an absolute discharge, and with continued mental health supports through the outpatient program and the injection clinic at Humber River Hospital.
Rationale for the Absolute Discharge Recommendation
In reviewing Mr. Razaghi’s tenure under the ORB, he was admitted on an inpatient basis on FATU (unit 3-5) and came into the forensic program at CAMH on October 16, 2015. He transitioned to the community, where he began residing with his parents, on February 14, 2017. Since then, there have been no hospital readmissions. On October 26, 2018, a Conditional Discharge disposition was issued and he remained on this disposition thereafter. His medications were simplified to include a single long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication and a stable dose of lithium therapy by May 7, 2024. There have been no further psychotropic medication changes. Since May 2024, he has maintained mental health stability on paliperidone 350mg injection every 12 weeks and lithium 600mg nightly. To facilitate a transfer to a non-forensic mental health program in anticipation of a potential absolute discharge recommendation, Mr. Razaghi’s began transitioning his psychiatric care to Humber River Hospital’s injection clinic and outpatient psychiatric follow-up with Dr. Fleiman in December 2024. Since then, he has maintained appointments with Dr. Fleiman and Humber River Hospital’s injection clinic with no reported episodes of ‘no shows.’ Dr. Fleiman continued to assess his mental state, prescribe psychotropic treatment, and monitor lithium related blood work. He maintained adherence to psychotropic treatment despite the absence of a condition to adhere to treatment. Additionally, following the removal of conditions to abstain from substances during the reporting year, Mr. Razaghi has not returned to using psychoactive substances, including cannabis. There have also been no concerns pertaining to problematic alcohol use. In the context of an absolute discharge, his care at Humber River Hospital will continue. He will continue with his current case manager until he is accepted for case management support via a non-forensic program. During the transition between case managers, there is likely to be overlap case management support to provide his new case manager time to familiarize themselves with Mr. Razaghi. Accounting for the aforenoted factors, the above risk assessment, the presence of a safety and crisis prevention plan, and an absence of violent reoffending behaviours since his tenure under the ORB – despite residing with his father who was the victim of the index offence, on balance, the threshold for significant threat to public safety is no longer met in Mr. Razaghi’s case.
Dr. Jaiswal gave oral evidence at the hearing and testified that he has been involved with Mr. Razaghi since 2023 as his outpatient psychiatrist and that he has had another positive reporting year. Dr. Jaiswal testified that he has met with him over the past reporting year and has been working with a transition plan with Dr. Fleiman at the Humber River Hospital. Dr. Jaiswal testified that he has worked on a crisis and safety plan with Mr. Razaghi and his family.
Dr. Jaiswal testified that Mr. Razaghi has continued to follow up with the Humber River Hospital injection clinic and that Dr. Fleiman is monitoring his lithium and sees him after he gets his injection and that in the past six months, he has maintained stability. Dr. Jaiswal testified that he has no concern about his use of substances. Dr. Jaiswal added that Mr. Razaghi has applied to take an HVAC program and to get OSAP funding for it.
Dr. Jaiswal testified that he has been in touch with Dr. Fleiman who has confirmed that Mr. Razaghi has not missed any appointments with her and that her therapeutic relationship with Mr. Razaghi is adequate and that Mr. Razaghi is pro-active with respect to scheduling his injections.
With respect to the crisis and safety management plan, Dr. Jaiswal testified that it has been in the works since last August and it is intended to help him and his family identify early signs of decompensation, which, in his case, are that he withdraws and becomes paranoid. The plan outlines potential resources he could use as necessary, and education has been provided about the Justice of the Peace process and how to obtain a Form 2. Dr. Jaiswal testified that this plan has been reviewed with Mr. Razaghi and his family several times.
Dr. Jaiswal testified that Mr. Razaghi will still maintain a case manager even if he receives an absolute discharge and that he is on the CMHA waitlist for a non-forensic case manager who will overlap with the forensic case manager.
Dr. Jaiswal testified that the Index offences occurred about 11 years ago, were his first violence related charges and Mr. Fazaghi has exhibited no violence since. Dr. Jaiswal gave evidence that Mr. Fazaghi understands his illness and his need for psychotropic medication for the rest of his life. Dr. Jaiswal confirmed that Mr. Fazaghi has not used substances or engaged in aggressive behaviour and has had no treatment changes since 2024. Dr. Jaiswal gave evidence that Mr. Fazaghi no longer represents a significant threat to public safety. Dr. Jaiswal testified that Mr. Fazaghi has been open with the treatment team, gave consent to Dr. Kleiman to speak with the treatment team and his parents. Dr. Jaiswal added that it has been a pleasure to work with Mr. Fazaghi and, if given an absolute discharge, the treatment team will have a final meeting with him.
In response to a question from crown counsel with respect to Mr. Fazaghi’s insight, Dr. Jaiswal testified that overall, he’s maintained a good level of insight. Dr. Jaiswal indicated that historically, Mr. Fazaghi has had issues with side effects, but in the past, he has been on higher than necessary does of lithium and other medications and, as a result, it took time to establish the proper medication regimen, during which time, his willingness to work with the treatment team has improved.
In response to a question as to what role his parents have and how that role impacts her view of significant threat, Dr. Jaiswal testified that Mr. Fazaghi’s father was the victim of the Index Offences and that Mr. Fazaghi has been residing with him since 2018 with no issues arising. Dr. Fazaghi reiterated that his parents have been educated with respect to safety and crisis management.
In response to a question as to whether the hospital’s recommendation of an absolute discharge was unanimous, Dr. Jaiswal testified that it was and that it was arrived at during a case conference in February of this year, in which two senior psychiatrists gave their input. Dr. Jaiswal added that the transition process is a robust plan, was began during the last reporting year and received unanimous support.
In response to a question as to whether he would be involved in Mr. Fazaghi’s care if an absolute discharge was granted, Dr. Jaiswal testified that he anticipates that he’ll continue to follow up with Dr. Fleiman and that, if Mr. Fazaghi is brought back to CAMH, he would become involved in his care. He gave evidence that Dr. Fleiman will be Mr. Fazaghi’s primary psychiatrist but that he will be available if needed.
Analysis and Conclusions
Having considered all of the evidence and the joint submission presented by the parties the Board finds that Mr. Razaghi no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public and is therefore entitled to an absolute discharge.
Mr. Razaghi has progressed well during the reporting year and has been living in the community with his parents for some time, has been medication compliant, substance abstinent, has not exhibited aggression or violence and has developed good insight into his mental illness and his need to take medication indefinitely in order to control his symptoms. A robust crisis and safety management plan has been put in place, and his family has been educated with respect to signs of decompensation and available resources to call upon if necessary. He has developed a therapeutic relationship with psychiatric services in the community and has engaged well Dr. Fleiman and the team at Humber River.
The Board would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Fazaghi on his hard work and successful reporting year and wish him the best of luck as he embarks on this new chapter in his life.
DATED this 3rd day of June, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Ms. J. Ferguson Legal Member
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Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board