A man accused of stabbing three individuals at a vibrant festival in Vancouver’s Chinatown back in September 2023 has entered a plea of not guilty to three counts of aggravated assault.
Blair Donnelly, appearing in court dressed in a navy sweatsuit and diligently taking notes, had been granted unescorted leave from the B.C. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam on the day of the incident.
The trial, presided over by a judge, commenced at the Supreme Court in Vancouver on Monday, where Donnelly formally entered his pleas.
According to Crown prosecutor Mark Myhre, Donnelly, who was on a day leave for a bike ride, made an unexpected stop at Home Depot to purchase a chisel before heading to the Braid Skytrain station and ultimately attending the Light Up Chinatown festival.
Myhre revealed that Donnelly has confessed to being the individual responsible for the stabbings that occurred at the festival.
The central question at hand, as stated by Myhre, is whether Donnelly should be held criminally accountable or if his actions were a result of a mental disorder.
During the incident, which took place just before 6 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2023, Donnelly allegedly attacked people enjoying a musical performance, injuring two women in the back and a man in the forearm.
All three victims received medical attention, including stitches and tetanus shots following the attack.
It was noted that Donnelly has a history of mental illness, prompting further examination into his state of mind on the day of the assault.
The trial is anticipated to carry on for about three weeks, with the defense yet to present their case.
A previous report by former Abbotsford Police chief Bob Rich highlighted Donnelly’s history of being released from psychiatric care numerous times without any incidents until the tragic event in 2023.
Keyphrase: Vancouver Chinatown stabbing incident