Ontario woman found not criminally responsible for killing her mom with a car has made 'lapses in judgement': psychiatrist
An Ontario woman found not criminally responsible for killing her mother by running her over repeatedly with a car recently bought herself a car without telling her treatment team.
Michelle Campbell was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on May 9, 2017, on a charge of second-degree murder.
“On March 22, 2016, Ms. Campbell was parked in a commercial parking lot. Her mother exited the car and walked away with the assistance of a walker. Ms. Campbell drove towards her mother at a high rate of speed causing her mother to be thrown into the air, on to the hood of the car and then on to the ground. Closed circuit television captured Ms. Campbell accelerating and reversing over her mother four times. She then exited the car, appeared to check on her mother, and then drove away,” says a recent decision from the Ontario Review Board.
The incident happened in Toronto’s Pelmo Park at a Leon’s Furniture store parking lot, just after 2 p.m. Eleanor Campbell, 65, was declared dead at the scene.
Michelle Campbell’s psychiatrist told the board during a recent hearing at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby that Campbell has made lapses of judgement lately, including contacting her ex-husband and his son this past March, contrary to a court order. She’s facing a criminal charge for that.
The psychiatrist “went on to give an example of a recent lapse in judgment, where Ms. Campbell purchased a car for herself, without speaking to the treatment team about how to navigate that,” said the board’s decision, dated Nov. 14.
When her psychiatrist was asked how concerning the car purchase was for Campbell’s treatment team, he “advised that this was ‘the murder weapon, so to speak.'”
He “explained that the team knew Ms. Campbell had been renting cars and driving, as she was permitted to do so in her disposition. However, it came as a surprise that she had gone out and bought a car for herself, as she had not spoken to the team about doing so. In her disposition, the conditions limit her ability to drive, as Ms. Campbell is required to have an approved itinerary.”
When her psychiatrist was asked about Campbell’s level of insight with respect to killing her mother, “he advised it is limited,” said the board. “Ms. Campbell acknowledges she was unwell, but continues to believe that it was partly her mother’s fault.”
Campbell, 52, has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“When she is going to be driving,” her psychiatrist explained, “Campbell will list all the places she is going to go that week, and the destinations that are consistent with her schedule. If the itinerary is acceptable, the hospital approves it. The itinerary requests and approvals are done by email.”
Her psychiatrist “is monitoring the emails and Ms. Campbell’s mental state and advised he would intervene if there were a change in her mental state that would impact her driving,” said the board.
Her psychiatrist “also explained that Ms. Campbell is a very religious person, and there are some aspects of the religiosity which cross the line into illness but these are more benign and less threatening now,” said the board.
“The team continues to be concerned that without the support Ms. Campbell has, her presentation and beliefs can shift quite quickly and that could result in a re-offence scenario like that of the index offence.”
The board continued Campbell’s existing conditional discharge.
“Ms. Campbell continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public,” it said.
The board pointed out that the offence that landed Campbell in its care is the most serious criminal offence in the Criminal Code.
“She has incurred a new charge of breaching her conditions for contacting her ex-spouse. She purchased a vehicle for herself without consultation with her team. In addition, she has a longstanding history of psychotic symptoms, and past non-compliance with her medication,” it said.
“She continues to have limited insight, and beliefs that may be indicative of symptoms of her underlying illness. There is concern that such beliefs have the potential to intensify and cause her to act out, as was the case at the time of the index offence.”
Campbell “picks up her medications weekly and remains medication compliant. Ms. Campbell is aware she requires treatment and is agreeable to taking her medication,” said the board, noting she’s also diligent about getting monthly blood tests to prove she’s taking her antipsychotic meds.
Her psychiatrist told the board Campbell’s medication has been recently increased.
“However, Ms. Campbell was also recently more stressed about the criminal charges which have impacted her mental state,” it said. “The team will continue to work with her to build insight. These are items the treatment team will be monitoring and working closely with her over the next year in order to best support her.”
The Ontario Review Board discharged Campbell on conditions including that she reside in the Durham Region.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Campbell is an only child.
“Her grandparents raised her until she was four years old, and her father did not have much contact with her during her formative years,” said the board. “At age seven, her mother moved her to Toronto after she married a Canadian. Upon graduating from high school, Ms. Campbell attended York University.”
She now lives “in a subsidized apartment, supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association,” said the board.
“She meets with their housing team once per week, as well as the Forensic Outpatient Service from the hospital. She also sees her psychiatrist … every six to eight weeks.”
Campbell was employed at “both Walmart and Dollarama over the course of the last reporting year, working as a cashier and stocking shelves,” said the board. “In addition to her employment, she also attends religious services with two congregations and has made several friends from the congregations.”
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