Toronto man who killed off-duty firefighter at a café now out of hospital despite ‘significant threat’

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Initially, he did well in the Canadian school system, said the decision. “His academic performance declined in high school, and he ultimately left a few credits short of graduating.”

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Before the killing, Huruy had convictions for theft, failing to comply with release conditions and break and enter.

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In the days leading up to Parker’s stabbing, Huruy “exhibited behavioural and perceptual disturbances, including two police encounters” on Sept. 11, 2013, said the decision. “He was assessed in hospital but denied psychotic symptoms and was discharged. In the period immediately before the index offence, he reported increasing fear and persecutory beliefs. He armed himself with two knives for protection and later described interpreting others’ intentions and believing that the victim posed a threat to him.”

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Huruy “has adjusted well to supervised community living,” at the Dowling facility, said the decision.

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“He has complied with all reporting requirements, maintained medication adherence, and managed his daily routines without difficulty. Staff describe him as reliable and cooperative, and there have been no concerns related to substance use, safety, or elevated risk during this period.”

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The facility “provides continuous staffing, supervised medication administration, routine mental status monitoring, and immediate communication with the forensic outpatient team regarding any concerns,” said the decision.

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Huruy “participates in structured programming, including CAMH programs, several days per week,” said the decision.

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He’s living about 1.7 kilometres from CAMH and “travels to programs by walking or public transit.”

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Until a few months ago, Nabil Huruy had been living in a secure unit at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Photo by COLE BURSTON/AFP via Getty Images

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According to his psychiatrist, he “has not exhibited active psychotic, manic, or residual psychotic symptoms over the past year. Previously noted religiously themed delusions have not emerged.”

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There’s been no evidence of “substance use relapse,” said the decision. “Regular urine drug screening has consistently yielded negative results. Mr. Huruy has remained fully adherent to medication, with no concerns regarding compliance.”

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His psychiatrist testified that he saw a “gradual but meaningful expansion in Mr. Huruy’s insight over the past year. While insight is not yet fulsome, Mr. Huruy increasingly links his index offence (of killing Parker) to psychosis and substance use, particularly cannabis.”

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Huruy volunteers at a food bank and attends a local mosque for Friday prayers, said the decision.

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“He visits his mother, an approved person, on weekends. He has accepted all recommended therapeutic programming and has not declined any proposed interventions.”

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According to his psychiatrist, “establishing stability remains necessary before considering increased liberties or the granting of a conditional discharge. However, the evidence supported a reduction in reporting frequency to biweekly, given Mr. Huruy’s sustained compliance and progress.”

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A lawyer for the province “raised an issue of concern for the victims,” Parker’s friends and family members, who frequent the area where Huruy’s now living, said the decision.

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“Counsel for the Attorney General accepted that the victims’ concerns are genuine, arising from geographic proximity rather than any concern about Mr. Huruy’s conduct or intent.”

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The ORB acknowledged that Huruy “has made substantial clinical progress and has demonstrated sustained psychiatric stability over the past year,” said the decision. “The board accepts the evidence that this progress reflects meaningful rehabilitation.”