Hospital Releases Assailant, Disregarding the Concerns of the Brother

CBC News reports that hospital released the assailant, disregarding the concerns of the brother.

The assailant, who attacked the parish priest at Holy Ghost Parish in Winnipeg on February 9, had reportedly been hearing voices telling him to "kill a priest."

The man was hearing voices instructing him to kill a priest to save his own life, the older brother reported to CBC News. His brother, the assailant, had been hospitalized on January 11. The attacker texted his brother saying that he felt threatened and worried for his own life. He checked himself into the hospital.

The brother of the attacker contacted CBC News because he believes that if the hospital had provided better care for his brother, this attack would not have happened.

After receiving these worrying texts, he called Health Sciences Centre and explained to the nurse in charge about his brother, calling him, "sick, unstable and a danger to society."

Only just 2 days later, he received a text from his brother saying that the hospital was releasing him. Alarmed he called the hospital, trying to find out the reason for the release. The doctor explained that the brother was able to fill out forms accurately, and had been through this many times.

The agency, Shared Health, which is the overseer for the Health Sciences Centre would not verify that the man, the assailant, had been a patient due to confidentiality.

The brother explained to CBC News that he and his family had been going to Holy Ghost Parish for years, and that they feel horrible for what has happened. He also explained that previously his brother had been living in Europe since 2020, but only just before Christmas he decided to move back to Winnipeg. He had moved in with his mother and then left, to live in shelters, to be on his own.

The brother hopes that he will be placed on the right medications, become stable and be able to recognize life around him. He also explained that he wanted the health minister to review the case and for his brother to receive proper medical care.

The agency, Shared Health would not comment on whether an investigation would be conducted on the release of the man.