Family wants to know when – and if – Udo Haan is released
The family of a woman killed by her husband, who then caused an explosion at their Kitchener, Ont. home, say they want to know when he’s out in the community.
Udo Haan was found not criminally responsible for his wife Edra’s death after it was determined he suffered from delusions at the time of the Sprucedale Crescent explosion in August 2018.
Haan has been staying at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health in St. Thomas and his care is supervised by the Ontario Review Board. He must participate in reviews, usually yearly, to determine what privileges he’s allowed. That decision is made by the person in charge of his care.
At his last hearing in April, the review board was told Haan had permission to leave the facility on a travel pass.
The review board agreed that could continue and also granted other privileges, ones that could allow Haan to live in Elgin and Middlesex County.
According to the Ontario Review Board, when a patient begins living in the community the hospital is required to notify the local authorities.
“They’ll notify the police and, once the police receives this information, they can then notify any relevant parties they deem appropriate, people they think should know about the decision to grant the accused community access, such as victims,” explained Gavin MacKenzie, general counsel for the Ontario Review Board.
At each hearing, the hospital submits a document detailing the patient’s progress since their last review. MacKenzie said that’s the only time the Ontario Review Board gets an update, unless one is needed for a specific reason, like the patient’s privileges need to be reviewed.
The aftermath of the explosion at Sprucedale Crescent. The house was completely destroyed, and the adjacent homes also caught fire. (WRPS / Twitter)
Reaction from Edra’s family
Edra’s brother feels the family should be told when Haan is allowed to travel or live outside the St. Thomas facility.
Right now, Al Pinheiro says, there’s no guarantee they’ll be informed of any changes.
“We were told it was up to them, if they were going to notify us. They didn’t give us a 100 per cent saying that they would do it,” he explained.
Edra Haan seen here with Al Pinheiro's grandchild in 2017. (Submitted/Al Pinheiro)
The Ontario Review Board said Haan is not allowed to contact certain people, including Pinheiro and Haan’s adult children.
Pinheiro wants everyone on the list alerted if Haan is permitted to live outside the hospital or is visiting on a travel pass.
“Be transparent, let us know what’s going on,” he told CTV News. “If he’s coming down to Kitchener, or if he is going to go to where my niece lives, that they can be aware. So they know what’s going on in their surroundings and be a little bit prepared.”
Pinheiro said not knowing what will happen next weighs heavy on the family.
“How would you like to come home from work and, all of a sudden, he’s sitting on your front porch?” he asked.
One of the reports from the Ontario Review Board notes that Haan is considering eventually living in St. Thomas.
Pinheiro said he’s not opposed to that plan, as long as he’s told when it happens.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre supports Israel 'proactively striking' Iranian nuclear sites to defend itself
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is supporting Israel's right to defend itself against Iran following last week's ballistic missile attack, saying that right includes 'proactively striking Iranian nuclear sites and oil installations to defund the terrorist regime.'
Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm. Florida orders evacuations
Florida's storm-battered Gulf Coast raced against a Category 5 hurricane Monday as workers sprinted to pick up heaps of appliances and other street debris left over from Helene two weeks ago and highways were clogged with people fleeing ahead of the storm.
'Selfish billionaire': Chip Wilson's mansion vandalized after political sign erected outside
Days after a political sign was erected outside Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.
'Feel free to get naked,' witness testifies Toronto councillor told her during 'networking' weekend
Toronto Coun. Michael Thompson 'forced himself on' a woman who awoke to find him standing over her after she fell asleep drunk, the Crown alleged Monday, as the five-day sexual assault trial of the six-term politician began in Bracebridge, Ont.
Is Disney World still open as Hurricane Milton strengthens to a Category 5?
Despite Hurricane Milton evolving into a Category 5 storm, Walt Disney World Resort remains open to the public and will operate as normal. However, the park announced Monday a few closures in an abundance of caution.
Disgraced former Winnipeg football coach sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault
A disgraced Winnipeg high school football coach convicted of sexual assault and luring will spend 20 years behind bars.
Two people injured in apparent road rage incident, shooting in Toronto
Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.
Sammy Basso, longest living survivor of rare rapid-aging disease progeria, dies at 28
Sammy Basso, who was the longest living survivor of the rare genetic disease progeria, has died at the age of 28, the Italian Progeria Association said on Sunday.
Prayers, protests and police as Canada marks anniversary of Oct. 7 Hamas attack
With prayers, protests, and a heavy police presence, Canada has marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and triggered an ongoing war.