Man who broke into woman’s home not criminally responsible

A man whose delusional thinking led him to believe his crimes were protecting a woman was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness. Nathaniel Roderick White, 31, of Sarnia pleaded guilty to harassing a woman by watching her workplace, forcing his way into the woman’s apartment and carrying a knife for a dangerous purpose. On March 15, White followed her home from her workplace. He had gone into the workplace earlier to apologize for text messages he sent proclaiming he was madly in love with her.

There was no romantic relationship between the two, but they had known each other for a year. At her apartment, White banged on the door and eventually smashed it open. She then found him laying on the floor and called police.

White left and sat in his vehicle outside the apartment building. After White’s arrest a search of the vehicle found a large hunting knife that White said was for personal protection.

White was experiencing delusional thinking at the time. He believed somebody else was following the woman and he entered the apartment to protect her, said defence lawyer Terry Brandon. A psychiatrist’s report stated White could not appreciate his actions were wrong due to a major illness.

The psychiatrist had diagnosed a number of disorders consistent with past findings. Justice Mark Hornblower found White to be not criminally responsible.

In an unrelated case, Hornblower had said there is a stigma attached to mental illness. But it is no different than a medical condition like diabetes that must be treated with medication. Hornblower ordered White to be detained at a mental health hospital pending a disposition by the Ontario Review Board. The board is an independent tribunal established in accordance with the Criminal Code. A majority vote of the board will determine the man’s disposition.

Board members including a psychiatrist will determine if the man requires no supervision in the community, some supervision or detention in a hospital.

A further psychiatric assessment was ordered on outstanding charges that will be dealt with Sept. 12.