British ColumbiaBlair Donnelly, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, told the court he had been “told by God” to carry out the September 2023 attacks. Blair Donnelly stabbed 3 people in September 2023 while on unescorted leave from a psychiatric hospitalListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesBlair Evan Donnelly, shown here in a court sketch at the top right, has been found not criminally responsible for a stabbing attack in Vancouver Chinatown in September 2023. (Sheila Allan)A B.C. Supreme Court justice has found a 66-year-old man not criminally responsible for an attack at a Vancouver Chinatown festival two years ago.Blair Evan Donnelly stabbed and injured three people at the Light Up Chinatown festival in September 2023, while on unescorted leave from a forensic psychiatric hospital.Instead of going for a bike ride and coffee on Sept. 10, 2023, he went to Home Depot and bought a wood chisel. He then went to the festival.Donnelly, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, has told the court he was “told by God” to carry out the attacks. His legal team argued he was incapable of making morally-grounded rational decisions due to a mental disorder.The Crown prosecutor argued that Donnelly was well enough to know what he was doing, noting testimony from Donnelly that he was hoping for another message from God not to carry out the violence — meaning he understood what he was doing was wrong.Justice Eric Gottardi ruled that Donnelly knew what he was doing was wrong but that his mental state and devotion pushed him to try and obey what he understood God wanted him to do.Donnelly will remain at the B.C. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, with his case now sent to the B.C. Review Board, which has jurisdiction over people found not criminally responsible.It is expected to make a determination on his case in 90 days. Gottardi acknowledged in court that the ruling will not bring any “solace” to the victims of the random violence, but said that Donnelly staying at the hospital and receiving care is appropriate.Donnelly had previously been found not criminally responsible for stabbing his daughter to death in 2006, and for a 2017 attack on another psychiatric patient with a butter knife.ABOUT THE AUTHORChad Pawson is a CBC News reporter in Vancouver. Please contact him at chad.pawson@cbc.ca.
Vancouver Chinatown stabbing attacker found not criminally responsible
