‘How is it possible?’: David Eby calls for review into stabbing suspect’s release from psychiatric facility

Premier David Eby is calling for an independent review into how the suspect in this weekend’s triple stabbing in Vancouver’s Chinatown was able to get an unescorted day release from a psychiatric facility, saying the decision left him “white hot angry.”

Blair Evan Donnelly is in custody and charged with three counts of aggravated assault after Sunday’s attack at the Light Up Chinatown festival, which left three people with severe wounds.

In 2008, Donnelly was found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder for stabbing his teenage daughter to death in 2006, and was sent to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam. Three months later, he qualified for what is called escorted community access.

In 2009, he was granted the chance to have unsupervised community visits for up to 28 days in length. While out on one of these visits in October 2009, he stabbed a friend while in a psychotic state. He was held criminally responsible for his actions, according to B.C. Review Board documents.