A Toronto man who was found not criminally responsible for bludgeoning his father to death with a hammer a decade ago has been granted permission to travel internationally for two weeks, even as authorities maintain he still poses a significant threat to public safety.
Board Approves Supervised Travel Despite Ongoing Risk
The Ontario Review Board issued a decision on December 30, 2025, allowing Ari Da Costa, 30, to travel abroad for a period not exceeding 14 days. This approval came with strict conditions: the trip must be on an itinerary approved by the person in charge of his case and he must be accompanied by an approved person, such as his mother.
Da Costa had initially requested a 30-day leave to travel to Thailand to study mixed martial arts. However, his treatment team and psychiatrist recommended a shorter, two-week trip as a more appropriate first step. The board's decision explicitly states it is "unanimous in accepting that Mr. Da Costa represents a significant threat to the safety of the public," a designation that includes safety concerns everywhere, not just in Canada.
A Decade-Long Path from Tragedy to Supervised Release
The case stems from a horrific event on December 18, 2015, when Da Costa called 911 to report that he had struck his father in the head with a hammer and believed him to be dead. Police found Da Costa covered in blood and arrested him. His father, Richard Da Costa, was discovered dead in the basement of their home with a hammer beside him.
Da Costa later revealed he had contemplated killing his father for six months prior to the attack, having hidden a hammer in the couch cushions. He stated he knew striking his father on the head would be fatal and attacked from behind while his father was carrying a television.
In May 2019, Da Costa was found not criminally responsible (NCR) on a charge of first-degree murder due to a mental disorder. His case has since been managed by the Ontario Review Board, which oversees NCR accused individuals.
Balancing Rehabilitation with Public Protection
The board's latest decision reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing a patient's rehabilitation with the imperative of public protection. Da Costa's lawyer argued that at some point, it is necessary to "take the training wheels off" to allow for reintegration and testing of progress.
Recent reports on his condition have been positive. Since December 2024, Da Costa has been detained within the General Forensic Unit at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences with community privileges. He resides in supervised accommodation at Ballantyne House, works four days a week, and spends weekend leaves with his mother without reported issues. His psychiatrist described the past year as "a good year for Mr. Da Costa."
The board acknowledged that any terms of disposition must be "not only necessary and appropriate but at the same time, the least onerous and least restrictive." The approved international travel, under strict supervision and for a limited duration, is viewed as a carefully measured step in his supervised reintegration, despite the acknowledged persistent risk he presents.
