Toronto man found NCR for killing his father approved for international trip despite being ‘significant threat’
A Toronto man found not criminally responsible for killing his own father with a hammer a decade back has been approved for 14 days of international travel even though he “continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.”
Ari Da Costa, 30, had asked the Ontario Review Board for a 30-day leave to travel internationally so he could study mixed martial arts in Thailand. Instead, his psychiatrist suggested two weeks of travel might be a better bet.
“The treatment team would like to see some shorter ‘intermediate length’ trips prior to considering such an extended absence,” said a recent decision from the Ontario Review Board.
Da Costa’s psychiatrist “also agreed that it would be ‘preferable’ if any contemplated international trip be in the company of an approved person,” such as his mother.
The board “is unanimous in accepting that Mr. Da Costa represents a significant threat to the safety of the public,” said the decision.
“As submitted by (a lawyer representing the Attorney General of Ontario), this includes ‘the safety of the public everywhere.'”
The board acknowledged “that the terms of any disposition must be not only necessary and appropriate but at the same time, the least onerous and least restrictive.”
At some point in time it is necessary to “take the training wheels off,” Da Costa’s lawyer told the board.
The board “supports international travel on an itinerary approved by the person in charge while accompanied by an approved person for a period not exceeding 14 days,” said the decision dated Dec. 30, 2025.
Da Costa was found not criminally responsible on a charge of first degree murder in May 2019.
In December 2024, “Mr. Da Costa was ordered to be detained within the General Forensic Unit at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences with privileges up to and including residing in the community in supervised accommodation,” said the decision.
His psychiatrist told the board “it has been a good year for Mr. Da Costa. He has done well in the community and there have been no issues with his supported residence at Ballantyne House. He continues to work four days a week and is given (leave of absence) passes on weekends which he tends to spend with his mother.”
Da Costa called 911 on Dec. 18, 2015.
“He stated that he needed paramedics and police, that he had struck his father in the head with a hammer, and he believed that his father was dead. Mr. Da Costa was found covered in blood and he was arrested. His father, Richard Da Costa, was found dead in the basement, with a hammer beside him,” said the decision.
Da Costa had been thinking about killing his father for six months before he did it. “He reported that he had hidden a hammer in couch cushions. He knew that striking his father on the head would kill him. He stated that he hit his father from behind, while his father was carrying a television.”
Weeks before killing his father, Da Costa “agreed to attend the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Early Psychosis Program,” said the decision.
“He reported paranoid symptoms, including messages from the television and people reading his mind. He consistently reported that he did not enjoy living with his parents but refused to elaborate.”
Da Costa “met with an occupational therapist at the program,” four days before killing his dad, “apparently in an organized and cooperative fashion.”
Da Costa has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, cannabis use disorder, and alcohol use disorder, though the last two are in remission, said the decision.
“Da Costa’s risk for violence flows primarily from his underlying major mental illness, which, when active and under treated, has led to very serious violence. He continues to have some residual symptoms of auditory hallucinations, but these do not cause significant distress or impairment at this time.”
His psychiatrist told the board “Da Costa’s symptoms are nearly completely in remission,” but that he “continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.”
Da Costa is now “using the lockbox at his residence for medication distribution seven days a week. In other words, he is now 100 percent managing his own medication compliance,” said the decision.
His treatment team said Da Costa “no longer requires the high level of support provided at Ballantyne House and will be able to be managed in a less supportive residence,” said the decision. “Having said that, the treatment team do not believe that Mr. Da Costa is ready for a move to fully independent living as this would represent an unnecessary risk enhancing step.”
His psychiatrist said “that the next move will be to housing operated by Durham Mental Health Services in a less supervised home.”
Da Costa was 20 years old and living with his grandmother when he killed his dad.
“He described a happy childhood but admitted to suffering from mood problems, gender identity issues and having bad thoughts in his mid-teens, which impacted his interpersonal functioning. He admitted to using marijuana and drinking alcohol heavily at times throughout his adolescence.”
Da Costa told the board he stopped using marijuana “because of its impact on his schooling. He was not passing his grades at Humber College as he left class ‘to get high all the time.’ He stated that cannabis also ‘…agitated the voices.’ Mr. Da Costa reported also having experimented with MDMA, using it twice at age 18.”
Da Costa studied fitness and health promotion at Humber. “He stated that he enjoyed his classes, but he did not want to put in as much effort as was required. He also acknowledged missing many classes because, as he stated, ‘I was too preoccupied with getting high.’ He left Humber College after failing half of his courses in his first semester and he did not return to school afterwards. He has a limited employment history. He reported that he eventually lacked the motivation to work and lived off credit cards and his parents’ support. He reportedly ran up a $2,000 credit card debt from the purchase of alcohol.”
Da Costa used a pass to travel to British Columbia last summer, said the decision. “He also makes use of indirectly supervised passes to travel to his mother’s home on weekends. There has been no indication of substance use while Mr. Da Costa has been on approved trips.”
His psychiatrist “agreed that it was possible that Mr. Da Costa would be eligible for a 30-day trip within the next reporting year.”
Da Costa is waiting for a bed at a Durham Mental Health Services home.
“There have been no issues with violence or threats at his current residence. There have been no command hallucinations bothering Mr. Da Costa. He is aware of the symptoms of his major mental illness,” said the decision.
Da Costa’s “insight has improved over the course of the past year,” said his psychiatrist. “There have been no breaches of his abstinence condition.”
The board said that “as Mr. Da Costa moves to more independent living, his risk of stressors caused by financial responsibilities, employment and substance use may exacerbate residual symptoms of psychosis (leading) to violent behaviour. It is noted that Mr. Da Costa has historically coped with psychosocial stressors through substance use.”
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