Kitchener man who killed wife, blew up home may be granted travel passes
Udo Haan, the Kitchener man who killed his wife and blew up their home in 2018, could receive travel passes to be in the community.
The Ontario Review Board, who holds hearings annually to determine what freedoms patients are allowed to have, issued their decision on Thursday.
The decision stated that as long as Haan is taking his medication and is behaving, he will be allowed travel passes and potentially more.
History of the case
In August 2018 Haan killed his wife Edra and caused an explosion that destroyed their home. Last year a judge found him to be “not criminally responsible” because he was suffering from delusions at the time.
Haan has been in the care of a mental health care hospital in St. Thomas and was recently started on new medication.
What’s next?
On Thursday, the review board granted Haan passes that would allow him to spend up to five days throughout parts of Ontario with supervision.
Haan could also potentially live independently in Elgin or Middlesex County, if approved by the hospital.
According to the review board, these privileges are not guaranteed and are at the discretion of doctors.
“When Mr. Haan demonstrates to the hospital that he is medically compliant that his symptoms are stabilized and that he's ready and not before, and the fact that the board authorizes the hospital to do it is not a direction from the board that the hospital should, or has to do it, at any point in time, and if Mr. Haan is not found to be ready by the hospital to exercise those passes, they won't,” said Steve Gehl, Udo Haan’s lawyer, when talking to CTV News last week.
The hospital said they have a strong risk assessment process and provide excellent care that can allow reintegration into the community when the time is right.
Haan will undergo a yearly assessment to determine his level of access to the community.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian government proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.