Please note the Board does not comment on specific cases before the BC Review Board. Responses to media inquiries are for information only and cannot be used as authority in court proceedings.
BC Review Board hearings are presumptively public. For a schedule of upcoming hearings, please see the schedule page here.
After reviewing the information provided on this website, if you have any questions regarding the Board’s mandate or processes please contact the Board via email at BCRBRegistry@gov.bc.ca or use the form on our contact page.
BC Review Board staff will not be available to speak to media personnel on site.
Reasons
The Review Board, like the Court, speaks through its dispositions (orders) and Reasons for Disposition.
In circumstances where there is an application to withhold our reasons, the Board will invite legal submissions from the Parties and media and then rule on the application.
Notices to media in such cases will be displayed below.
Notices to Media
There are no current notices to media.
On November 24, 2023 the Board received an application from Blair Evan DONNELLY’s counsel for a hearing in the absence of all parties (a paper hearing), as per Rule 27 of the BCRB Rules and Procedures Governing the Review Board Process. On November 27, 2023 the Board received consent for the paper hearing from Crown counsel and counsel for the Director of Adult Forensic Psychiatric Services. All parties agreed that the accused should remain in custody. The Review Board panel considered the application and, on December 1, 2023, granted the application for the hearing to proceed in the absence of all parties.
On December 2, 2024 this order was extended, with the consent of all parties, for 12 months.
An annual review for Mr. Donnelly is scheduled for December 1, 2025, at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital. The new October 24, 2025 NCRMD verdict will also be considered at this hearing.
The July 19, 2018 Reasons for absolute discharge are available. These are the most recent reasons. Please note that there is a ban under s. 672.501(1) of the Criminal Code that prohibits the publication, broadcasting or other transmission of any information that could identify a victim, or a witness under 18 years of age, in this matter. Failure to comply with this order is an offence.
For any future hearings, please see the schedule page.