Hospital release process under scrutiny after activist’s murder
Posted Apr 19, 2012 05:45:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As the man accused of murdering a well-known local activist returns to the East Coast Forensic Hospital, Nova Scotia’s politicians are wrangling with complex issues surrounding mental illness and public safety.
Andre Denny, 32, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Raymond Taavel.
Taavel died early Tuesday morning after trying to intervene in a fight outside a bar on Gottingen Street.
Denny appeared in court Wednesday and was remanded to the hospital for a 30-day psychiatric assessment.
Hours later, MLAs met in the legislature to show their respect for Taavel.
Premier Darrell Dexter delivered prepared comments, saying Nova Scotians need to reaffirm their support for the gay and lesbian community.
“We must also reaffirm our support for the many other communities that have been the object of hate and misunderstanding, including those who suffer from serious mental illness,” he said.
Dexter also addressed the outrage generated by the fact that Denny, a man with a history of mental illness and aggressive behaviour, was on an unescorted leave from the hospital at the time of Taavel’s death.
“I think we owe it to Ray to seek answers and to find ways to protect ourselves, not through revenge but in the same manner that Ray would have,” said the premier.
Liberal leader Stephen McNeil continued the theme with a call for compassion and greater awareness of mental health issues.
“We as a society have left mental health issues unattended for far too long,” he said. “We need to understand each other better, not simply tolerate our differences but embrace and celebrate our differences.”
After the tributes, the opposition parties began demanding answers from the government about how a man with a violent history could have been allowed to leave the hospital – even for an hour.
Dexter says the province plays a role in only part of that decision-making process.
“The actual provisions of law with respect to release are set out in the Criminal Code, and the requirement which the board must meet are therefore not a matter of our direct jurisdiction,” he said.
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald pointed out that the assessment process is typically trouble-free.
“In spite of this horrific circumstance, there are many people with mental illnesses who are being very successfully re-introduced into our community through a process that’s managed,” she said.
The health and justice departments will be working with Capital Health to conduct a review of the circumstances surrounding Denny’s release. A progress report is expected in 20 days.
