B.C. premier says he's 'white-hot angry' that stabbing suspect was on day pass from psychiatric hospital
Blair Evan Donnelly, 64, stabbed his daughter to death in 2006
Premier David Eby says he is "white-hot angry" that the man charged in a triple stabbing in Vancouver's Chinatown was out on a day pass from a psychiatric hospital despite his history of knife attacks and murder.
"I am so angry. I am white-hot angry that this person was released unaccompanied into the community to have a devastating impact on all of the hard work of these community members," said Eby on Tuesday morning.
Blair Evan Donnelly, 64, is in custody charged with three counts of aggravated assault. He is accused of stabbing a husband and wife in their 60s and a woman in her early 20s at the Light Up Chinatown festival on Sunday. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
In 2008, Donnelly was found not criminally responsible for killing his 16-year-old daughter Stephanie because of a mental disorder, and he was incarcerated at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, B.C.
Donnelly had been charged with second-degree murder for his daughter's death in Kitimat, B.C., in 2006 and pleaded not guilty.
At trial, the court heard testimony that he thought God wanted him to kill his daughter, who was an accomplished figure skater and coach in the community. He was later found praying outside a local church with blood on his hands.
During an unescorted release from the Coquitlam facility in 2009, he stabbed a friend.
"I cannot fathom how someone who murdered his daughter was released in 2009, went out and stabbed somebody else, would then be released again, unaccompanied, [was] somehow able to go out and buy a knife, and then go to Chinatown and stab three people," said Eby.
"How is that possible?"
Granted leave from custody in April
Donnelly was the subject of a British Columbia Review Board (BCCRB) hearing on April 13, 2023.
The BCRB decision gave the director of adult forensic psychiatric services the discretion to grant Donnelly escorted and unescorted leave from custody at the hospital, including overnight stays in the community of up to 28 days "for the purpose of assisting in his reintegration into the society."
Another condition of release required that Donnelly "not acquire, possess, or use any firearm, explosive or offensive weapon."
Although the BCRB decision notes the 2008 court decision that found Donnelly not criminally responsible for murder, it does not mention that he stabbed someone when previously released in 2009.
Blaine Bray, executive director of B.C.'s Forensic Psychiatric Services, said he was unable to comment on a specific patient's personal circumstances.
"About day passes, on a general basis for any eligible individual, prior to granting leave or time in the community, the treatment team considers a variety of factors — including the patient's progress and mental status — and a review process is followed, which requires the approval of the B.C. Review Board and Program and Privileges committee," said Bray.
Eby said his government would "get to the bottom of how this happened" to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"All I can say is that I'm sure it boggles the mind of all British Columbians, as it does me, that a series of decisions could have been taken that landed us in this place," said Eby.
The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital treats people who have been found not criminally responsible for a crime or unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder. It's located around 20 kilometres east of Vancouver's Chinatown neighbourhood.
B.C.'s Forensic Psychiatric Services told CBC that interactions between law enforcement and patients out on day passes are extremely rare.
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With files from Tanya Fletcher and Lien Yeung