Court upholds ruling to allow military stabber to go to Mohawk College alone

Ontario’s top court has upheld a ruling that will allow a man found not criminally responsible in a knife attack at a military recruitment centre to attend Mohawk College on his own.

According to The Canadian Press, the appeal court says the Ontario Review Board considered all the required factors last year in granting Ayanle Hassan Ali permission to attend school unaccompanied while he continues to be held at a secure Hamilton hospital.

On March 14, 2016, Ali walked into the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in North York, and repeatedly punched a soldier at the entrance in the head. He then pulled a large kitchen knife from a folder and stabbed the soldier, leaving a three-inch gash to the corporal’s arm. Ali attempted to stab another soldier but his knife was pointed the wrong way.

He was eventually subdued by several officers who pinned Ali with chairs.

Two years later, Ali was found not criminally responsible for the attack. An Ontario judge said he suffers from schizophrenia and had been hearing bothersome messages from everywhere.

Ali has been in a secure psychiatric facility at St. Joseph’s Healthcare for with no privileges, other than the use of a fitness room and courtyard. He tried to get out once, shortly after admission, by buzzing at a door and asking to leave.

During the appeal, prosecutors had challenged the board’s ruling, saying too much consideration had been given to Ali’s needs and too little to public safety.

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