A Toronto man who was found not criminally responsible for killing his girlfriend more than a decade ago is back behind bars following a disturbing incident this summer. Michal Nowaczek-Said, who was previously granted a conditional discharge by the Ontario Review Board (ORB) earlier this year, was taken into custody after police found him wandering naked near a lake in Simcoe County while screaming about God.
According to reports, the incident occurred when officers responded to calls about an unusual individual in the area. Upon finding Nowaczek-Said, a subsequent urine test revealed that he had violated the terms of his conditional release, likely due to substance abuse. The positive drug test triggered an immediate review of his discharge status.
Nowaczek-Said first made headlines in 2007 when he was convicted of the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Krissa Warnke. At trial, his defence argued he was suffering from a severe bipolar disorder episode at the time of the killing. The jury ultimately found him not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, a verdict that sparked significant public outrage and debate across Canada regarding the use of the NCR defense.
After spending years in a psychiatric facility, the Ontario Review Board granted him conditional discharge in early 2018, allowing him to live in the community under strict conditions including regular monitoring, curfews, and mandatory psychiatric treatment. The decision was highly controversial, with critics arguing the conditions were insufficient given the severity of his original crime.
Following the latest incident, the ORB moved swiftly to revoke his conditional discharge and issue a new detention order. Under Ontario's Mental Health Act, individuals found not crimibly responsible are subject to the jurisdiction of the Review Board, which can mandate hospitalization if a patient poses a risk to themselves or others or fails to comply with release conditions.
Legal experts say this case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing public safety with the rehabilitative goals of the NCR system. Nowaczek-Said remains in custody pending a full hearing before the Ontario Review Board, where officials will determine whether he should continue to be detained or whether modified conditions could allow another attempt at community reintegration.
