During his trial for allegedly stabbing three individuals at a festival in Vancouver’s Chinatown in 2023, Blair Donnelly is sharing his journey of embracing religion in court. Donnelly, who denies three counts of aggravated assault at the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, disclosed that he used to be involved in drug dealing and excessive drinking before making a pact with God to lead a different life with a family.
Now 66 years old, Donnelly revealed that he turned to religion at the age of 22, which brought about a significant transformation in his life. Carrying a Bible throughout the trial, Donnelly opted to affirm his commitment to truth rather than swearing on the holy book before testifying, referencing a particular Bible verse about oath-taking.
Prior to the incident, Donnelly was on unescorted leave from the B.C. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam. His lawyer, Glen Orris, acknowledged Donnelly’s involvement in the stabbings but argued that his mental state would be a critical aspect to consider. Orris mentioned that Donnelly had been diagnosed with “bipolar disorder, atypical type” and had been a resident of the psychiatric hospital since 2008 following a past legal case involving his daughter’s death.
Orris further explained that although Donnelly was aware of the illegality of his actions at the festival, he believed he was acting on divine instruction. The prosecution presented its case, showcasing surveillance footage illustrating Donnelly’s activities on the day of the attack, including purchasing a chisel from Home Depot, traveling to Chinatown, and allegedly stabbing two women and a man at the festival.