Man Found Not Criminally Responsible for Chinatown Stabbing Attack

UPDATE: A man accused of a shocking stabbing spree at the Light Up Chinatown festival has been found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. Blair Donnelly, 66, was involved in the attack that injured three people in July 2023 while he was on unescorted leave from the B.C. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam.

In a dramatic courtroom revelation, Donnelly admitted to stabbing two women in the back and a man in the arm during the festival, citing a belief that he was “prompted by God” to commit the act. His lawyer argued that Donnelly’s diagnosis of schizophrenia hindered his capacity to understand the wrongfulness of his actions.

Donnelly’s testimony revealed a chilling narrative. He claimed he left the psychiatric facility on an e-bike intending to grab coffee but felt compelled to change his course towards Chinatown. “I went there to get some type of instrument I needed something to hurt somebody with,” he stated, referencing a chisel he purchased at a Home Depot that day.

The court heard that Donnelly wandered through the crowded festival, believing he would be apprehended by “the Chinese authorities” if he harmed someone. He approached his victims, stabbed two of them, and attempted to stab a third who managed to evade him. Donnelly emphasized he held no animosity towards the victims but intended only to cause harm, not death.

This isn’t Donnelly’s first encounter with the law regarding violence. He was previously found not criminally responsible for the fatal stabbing of his daughter in 2006 and a later attack on a fellow patient in 2017.

The judge-only trial, which focused on Donnelly’s mental state during the incident, has raised questions about the intersection of mental health and violent behavior. The verdict will have significant implications for discussions surrounding mental health treatment within the criminal justice system.

As this case continues to unfold, many are left wondering about the safety of public events and the effectiveness of current psychiatric care protocols. Authorities are expected to release further details in the coming days.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.