Re Terrance G. Williams, 2026 CanLII 56697

Ontario Review Board

Re: Terrance G. Williams

ORB File No: 8065/8074

Hearing held on: May 5, 2026

Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street Whitby Ontario

Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code

Before:

Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein

Members: Dr. T. Wilkie Dr. M. Green Hon. A. Sosna Mr. A. Mete

Parties Appearing:

Accused: Terrance G. Williams Counsel: Mr. C. Hynes

The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Mr. K. Dow

Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald

REASONS FOR DISPOSITION

(Dated: June 8, 2026)

Introduction:

1. On March 28, 2022, Terrance Williams was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (“NCR”) on charges of aggravated assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada the “Criminal Code”. On May 4, 2022, he was again found NCR on a charge of assault, contrary to the Criminal Code,

2. Mr. Williams is currently subject to the terms and conditions of a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) dated June 10, 2025. Under his current Disposition, Mr. Williams is detained within the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street Whitby Ontario, (“Ontario Shores”) subject to a number of terms, conditions and privileges.

3. On May 5, 2026, a panel of the ORB convened an in person hearing at Ontario Shores. The issue at this hearing is whether Terrance Williams is a significant threat to public safety, as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code. If so, the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances must be determined, bearing in mind the factors enunciated in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.

4. Mr. Williams was present at the hearing and was represented by counsel Mr. C. Hynes.

5. Dr. D. Pallandi Mr. Williams’s psychiatrist for approximately one year testified at the hearing. Introduced into evidence is Exhibit 1 the Hospital Report dated April 14, 2026. Dr. Pallandi adopted the contents of the Hospital Report.

Position of the Parties:

6. At the commencement of the hearing, the parties were asked for their initial without prejudice positions.

7. Counsel for the Hospital, counsel for the Attorney General, and counsel for Mr. Terrance submitted, that Mr. Terrance be conditionally discharged with amended conditions and privileges.

8. For the reasons set out below the Board found the necessary and appropriate Disposition is that Mr. Terrance be conditionally discharged with amended conditions and privileges to be detailed below.

Current Diagnoses:

1. Schizophrenia

Cannabis Use Disorder-in remission

Index Offences:

10. The details surrounding the index offences are summarized from last years Reasons for Disposition.

Finding of NCR for Aggravated Assault on March 28, 2022.

Mr. Williams was charged with 9 offences as a result of incidents that occurred on December 5, 2020, but was only found NCR on a charge of aggravated assault. The other charges, attempted murder, possessing a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, theft under $5,000, disobeying a court order (x2), and failing to comply with a release order were withdrawn.

The circumstances surrounding the above offences involved Mr. Williams waiting at a bus stop and attempting to engage a stranger in a conversation about Vikings and God.

Mr. Williams and the stranger boarded the bus. While in transit without provocation Mr. Williams stabbed the stranger causing injuries to his head.

Subsequently while trying to steal a bottle of whiskey from an LCBO store, Mr. Williams punched a second stranger without provocation. Mr. Williams was then in possession of two large knives.

At the time of the incident he was bound by a peace bond and a judicial release order not to possess weapons.

Finding of NCR for Assult on May 4, 2022

On November 19, 2020, Mr. Williams was in a bank vestibule in possession of a knife. The police seized the knife but elected not to charge Mr. Williams.

Later that night while on a bus Mr. Williams began pacing up and down the aisle cursing and swearing. Without provocation, Mr. Williams punched a passenger and then fled.

Shortly thereafter he struck a woman with a bottle he was carrying while she was putting her child in a car seat.

Mr. Terranc was charged with assault regarding the incident on the bus, and assault with a weapon regarding the attack on the woman.

He was found NCR on the assault charge. The assault with a weapon offence was withdrawn by the Crown.

Background History:

11. Mr. Williams is 25 years old. He was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Canada in 2010 with some of his family. His father was already resident in Canada. His mother remained in Jamaica.

12. He was expelled from high school for skipping classes, getting into fights and selling cannabis. He had difficulty maintaining employment. He is currently supported by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

13. Mr. Williams had lived with his father but because of disruptive behaviour he was asked to leave by the landlord. He lived with his aunt and left because of his use of cannabis which she objected to. His father and sister tried to house him in various shelters, but Mr. Williams declined housing or funding associated with the government.

14. Mr. Williams has a dated criminal record. In 2016, he was convicted of possession of a weapon and received two years probation. In 2019 he was convicted of uttering threats, assault, and causing a disturbance. He was ordered to enter into a recognisance to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Psychiatric History:

15. Mr. Williams first psychiatric admission was in 2016. He was 16 years old and brought to Rouge Valley Centenary Hospital presenting with bizarre behaviour, delusional thinking, and religious preoccupation. At the time he was frequently using cannabis. He was treated with antipsychotic medication and discharged with a diagnosis of first episode psychosis, and marijuana use disorder.

16. Over the next three years Mr. Williams was admitted a number of times to the Rouge Valley Centenary Hospital presenting with paranoia and auditory hallucinations often in the context of medication noncompliance and daily cannabis use.

17. In 2020 Mr. Williams was brought to the hospital by his father. His father reported Mr. Wiliams had stopped taking his Invega injection in the preceding 8 months and his mental state had deteriorated. At that time, Mr. Williams had been homeless for approximately two months.

18. Pursuant to an Assessment Order, Mr. Williams was admitted to Ontario Shores in the Forensic Assessment Unit (“FAU”) in 2021. At the time of admission, he was taking antipsychotic medication, but continued to exhibit grandiose delusions stating he was God and held most of the power in the universe. Mr. Willliam’s mental state remained unchanged throughout the remainder of the admission.

19. As previously reviewed in 2022, he was found NCR for the two incidents of assault and aggravated assault. Mr. Williams is currently subject to the terms and conditions of a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) dated June 10, 2025.

EVIDENCE AT HEARING:

20. Over the past year Mr. Williams has resided at McKay House a 24-hour Durham Mental Health Services (“DMHS”) supervised group home. He was transferred to that facility last year, four days prior last years ORB Disposition.

Notwithstanding the progress Mr. Wiliams had made that reporting year,- cooperation with staff and fellow patients, engagement with numerous programming to develop skills assist him in his transition into the community, medication compliance, and no significant breaches, the panel found given the serious nature of his mental illness and evidence of ongoing residual psychotic symptoms the necessary and appropriate Disposition was a continuation of the then Detention Order.

22. In the present hearing, when asked how Mr. Williams had fared over the past year, in part Dr. Pallandi testified that, “He’s done very, very well. As matter of fact, he’s been compliant with treatment…Very cooperative with the team. Pleasant individual to work with. There have been no complaints from the Community Housing..No issues about behavioural problems of any kind…So all in all he’s made vey good progress”.

23. When later asked about the hospital recommendation that a conditional discharge be considered, Dr. Palladini replied in part, “Well, I mean, first of all as I’ve said he’s had a good degree of stability. He’s been cooperative. He’s maintained cooperation more broadly…So there hasn’t been any reason for him to be hospitalized. So, I think the next logical a step is to move to a less restrictive disposition…

The Hospital Report pgs. 31-35

24. Much of Dr. Palladini’s evidence has been corroborated in the Hospital Report. Since the last hearing in 2025, Mr. Williams has resided at McKay House which provides supportive housing for individuals with serious long-term illness. The home has 15 residents and is staffed 24-hours a day. Staff help clients with life skills, coping skills, problem solving, socialization, and accessing community services.

25. Mr. Williams continues to receive follow-up by the Forensic Outpatient Service (“FOS”) once every two weeks and has monthly appointments with Dr Pallandini. He has reported intermittent auditory hallucinations and his medication has recently been changed to address that issue. He has remained abstinent from the use of substances. Random urine drug screens raised no concerns regarding substance abuse. Mr. Williams has been in contact with his family members who continue to support him.

Clinical Assessment of Risk

26. Mr. Williams risk is accounted for by his underlying mental illness, his relatively recent index offence[s]and the relatively recent need to make changes to his medication because of ongoing and persistent psychotic symptoms despite treatment with antipsychotic medication.

He is currently subject to a high degree of support and supervision in housing. He is seen regularly and frequently by his clinical team.

The contribution of ongoing auditory hallucinations to his overall risk is a concern.

Notwithstanding this, he has been very cooperative, pleasant, and agreeable patient. He has agreed to suggestions of the clinical team and has been fully amenable to supervision and oversight.

Given Mr. Williams’s cooperative stance, freedom from problematic behaviour, compliance with medication and avoidance of substances despite ongoing symptoms, it is the opinion of the clinical team that a Conditional Discharge is the necessary and appropriate Disposition with which to manage his residual risk to the safety of the public but also to further his complete reintegration back to the community.

ASSESSMENT AND FINDINGS

27. On all the evidence, the panel agrees with the joint submission of counsel and the unanimous opinion of the clinical team that in the previous reporting year Mr. Williams has done exceedingly well, with few if any setbacks.

28. Accordingly, the panel finds that the necessary and appropriate Disposition, which is also the least onerous and restrictive is that Mr. Williams be granted a Conditional Discharge, with amended conditions that he:

Reside within the Durham Mental Health Service;

Report to the person in charge of the facility or his or her designate, not less than once every two weeks;

Abstain absolutely from non medical use of alcohol or drugs or and; other intoxicants:

Submit samples of his/her urine and or/ breath to the person in charge of the facility for the purpose of analyzing whether the accused has ingested alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicant (person in charge will be ordered to require the accused to submit samples of urine and /or breath);

Refrain from having in his possession any firearm, ammunition or other offensive weapons, or being in the company of any person having possessing a firearm other than a peace officer;

Advise the person in charge of his/her designate, in advance, of any absence from his residence of 24 hours or more;

Notify in writing, the person in charge of the facility or his/her designate and the Ontario Review Board 24 hours in advance of any change of existing address or telephone number;

All travel passes must be accompanied by a person approved by the person in charge and with the prior approval of his itinerary by the person in charge or their designate;

[he]may under s. 672.92(1) of the Criminal Code, be delivered to Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences should the accused be arrested pursuant to s. 672.91 of the Criminal Code for a breach or for an anticipated breach of terms of this Disposition.

29. Lastly, regarding the issue of cognitive assessment that was referenced in last years reasons, Dr. Palladini was asked about the status of that assessment. He testified he only became aware of this recommendation for cognitive testing when reviewing last year’s reasons in preparation for providing evidence at the hearing. Dr. Palladini testified that he would further pursue the status of the aforementioned cognitive testing.

30. The panel strongly recommends that given resources that could be accessed if a neurodevelopmental disorder is confirmed, that cognitive testing is further pursued during the upcoming reporting year. The cognitive assessment can also provide valuable information to the clinical team in relation to managing his risk.

DATED this 8^th day of June 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.

Alexander Sosna

Legal Member

Office of the Registrar

Ontario Review Board