Man who set woman on fire aboard Toronto bus found not criminally responsible for her death
Tuesday, June 11, 2024

The man who set a woman on fire at a Toronto transit station two years ago has been found not criminally responsible for her death and will now be detained in a hospital setting.

The decision was handed to Tenzin Norbu by Ontario Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell in Toronto on Tuesday. Norbu was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nyima Dolma in July 2022 after dousing the 28-year-old woman in lighter fluid and igniting the substance aboard a bus at Kipling Station.

At the outset of his trial on Monday, both Crown prosecutors and Norbu’s lawyers asked Forestell to find Norbu not criminally responsible for Dolma’s death, arguing that a “long-standing” psychotic state rendered him incapable of fully understanding what he’d done.

Police say 28-year-old Nyima Dolma, pictured, died of her injuries in hospital July 5 after being set on fire by a stranger at Kipling Subway Station on June 17, 2022. (Handout /Toronto Police)

In her decision, read out to the court on Tuesday, Forestell accepted the joint submission.

“I have concluded […] that Mr. Norbu was not criminally responsible on account of [a] mental disorder when he killed Ms. Dolma,” Forestell told the court. “His psychosis rendered him incapable of accessing rational choice at the time. He was unable to distinguish right from wrong as a result of his psychotic symptoms.”

On June 17, 2022, Dolma, commuting to her job as a caregiver, was sitting near the back of a bus at Kipling Station when Norbu boarded and stood behind her, according to an agreed statement of facts presented as part of proceedings. In an interaction that lasted mere minutes, Norbu, who immigrated to Canada in 2008, asked the woman if she was Tibetan before removing a mason jar of lighter fluid from his backpack, dousing her in it, and igniting the substance.

Norbu followed Dolma as she ran from the bus to the platform. He then removed his shirt and yelled ‘Free Tibet’ in front of a crowd of approximately 50 bystanders, the court heard.

Dolma suffered burns to 60 per cent of her body, covering her face, neck, arms, and legs. The incident was captured in its entirety on TTC surveillance footage but was not tendered as evidence in the case to protect against further collateral trauma.

Norbu was arrested in the hours after the incident, having fled down a set of exterior subway tracks. Toronto police first charged him with attempted murder in connection with the incident.

Dolma died on July 5, 2022, after 18 days in hospital. She was 28 years old. At that time, police upgraded Norbu’s charge to first-degree murder.

At trial on Monday, Dr. Alina Iosif, a forensic psychiatrist who reviewed Norbu’s medical files and assessed his mental condition, told the court she believed Norbu had been suffering from schizophrenia when he attacked Dolma. For nearly a decade prior to the offence, he’d displayed psychotic behaviour to both counsellors and physicians but remained undiagnosed, she said.

Over that period, Norbu experienced repeated delusions, including ongoing preoccupations with Tibetan politics, fire, and his sexuality, and, on several occasions, revealed to doctors a desire to set himself on fire, Iosif testified.

“I see these themes as almost obsessional,” the psychiatrist said. “The cornerstone of these themes is anchored in psychosis.”

In light of Forestell’s decision, Norbu will be remanded into the custody of the Ontario Review Board and detained in a hospital of its choosing. The status of his detention will be reviewed annually.

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Man who set woman on fire aboard Toronto bus not criminally responsible for her death: lawyers
Monday, June 10, 2024

The man charged with killing a woman by setting her on fire on a bus two years ago admitted to causing her death, but should not be found criminally responsible due a diagnosis of schizophrenia at the time, prosecutors and defence counsel argued at the outset of his trial in Toronto.

Led into the courtrooms in handcuffs on Monday morning, Tenzin Norbu pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder in front of Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell, presiding over the matter without a jury. Norbu was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of Nyima Dolma in June 2022, shortly after he set her on fire aboard a bus at Kipling Station in west Toronto.

Dolma and Norbu were strangers to one another at the time of the offence.

Toronto police are on Kipling subway station after a woman was set on fire. (CTV News Toronto)

According to an agreed statement of facts, Dolma, on her way to work as a caregiver, was sitting near the back of the bus when Norbu boarded and stood behind her. In an interaction that lasted minutes, Norbu, who immigrated to Canada in 2008, asked the woman if she was Tibetan before removing a mason jar of lighter fluid from his backpack, dousing her in it, and igniting the substance, the court heard during the Crown’s opening statements. She suffered burns to 60 per cent of her body, covering her face, neck, arms, and legs.

The incident was captured in its entirety on TTC surveillance footage but was not tendered as evidence in the case to protect against further collateral trauma.

After 18 days in hospital, Dolma died on July 5, 2022. She was 28 years old. At that time, police upgraded Norbu’s charge to first-degree murder.

On Monday, both Crown prosecutors and Norbu’s lawyers asked Justice Forestell to find him not criminally responsible for Dolma’s death, arguing that a “long-standing” psychotic state rendered him incapable of fully understanding what he’d done.

Alina Iosif, a forensic psychiatrist who reviewed years worth of Norbu’s medical records before assessing him, told the court she believed he suffered from schizophrenia when he attacked Dolma, and that he had displayed psychotic behaviour for nearly a decade prior to the offence. Norbu had likely been misdiagnosed with depression years earlier and was medicated as such, she said.

Norbu’s delusions, Iosif testified, included ongoing preoccupations with Tibetan politics, fire, and his sexuality, and, on several occasions, he revealed to doctors a desire to light himself on fire, she said.

“I see these themes as almost obsessional,” she testified. “The cornerstone of these themes is anchored in psychosis.”

Lawyers for Norbu did not call any evidence following Iosif’s testimony but made a joint submission that their client be found not criminally responsible.

“Mr. Norbu suffered from a longstanding diagnosis of schizophrenia,” Crown attorney Brady Donohue told the court. “There is clear evidence that he was delusional, psychotic, disorganized and for that reason, he could not understand that his act was wrong.”

In a prepared statement read out loud to the court, Dolma’s sister called the day of the attack “the darkest day of her life.”

“She had a whole life ahead of her,” she said. “I can’t put into words the pain, suffering, trauma I had to go through.”

TTC Supervisor Cameron Jackson, who tried to help Dolma after she ran from the bus and onto the Kipling platform, also gave a statement in which he said the incident still serves as a “stark reminder of the fragility of life.”

“Every interaction is tinged with a sense of detachment,” Jackson said from the witness stand. “As I grapple with the barrage of memories, I replay every moment of the incident in a desperate attempt to decipher what I could have done differently.”

Justice Forestell is scheduled to hand down her decision on Tuesday.

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One-year memorial held for woman who died after being set on fire on TTC bus outside Kipling Station
Saturday, June 17, 2023

It’s been one year since Nyima Dolma was doused with a flammable substance and set on fire by a man she did not know on a TTC bus outside Kipling Station.

The 28-year-old caregiver, originally from Tibet, was rushed to hospital with second- and third-degree burns and placed on life support, but died of her injuries just over two weeks later on July 5.

This morning, a small memorial was held outside Kipling Station to remember the woman who was described as “kind, joyful and friendly.”

The gathering, which included the planting of a ceremonial rose bush, was held at 8 a.m. outside the west main entrance.

Organizers told CP24 they will be meeting every morning up until July 5, the day Dolma died from her injuries.

In the days following Dolma’s death, the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre released a statement on behalf of the woman’s family and friends.

“(Nyima’s) young and promising life in Canada was cut short due to the tragic incident which happened on June 17, 2022. Please remember her in your prayers (Monlam) as the family grieves through this sorrowful time,” it read.

“We greatly appreciate and express our thanks to all for your support and understanding during this difficult time.”

Dolma’s sister also released a short statement on the day her sibling passed away.

“(Nyima) lived a life of service to others and cared for many people,” Dawa Tsamchoe wrote on a crowdfunding page.

Parkdale-High Park MPP Bhutila Karpoche, Ontario’s first Tibetan-Canadian member of provincial parliament, had also offered her condolences.

“I was saddened to learn of the death of the young Tibetan woman who was attacked at Kipling Station. My thoughts are with her grieving family and friends,” she wrote at that time.

“What we know so far about the disturbing circumstances that led to (Nyima’s) death has raised serious concerns about gender-based violence and mental health.”

A prayer service for Dolma was held at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre on July 15, 2022. A cremation service followed at Mississauga’s St. John’s Dixie Crematorium.

Shortly after the deadly assault, which Toronto police called an “isolated incident” and a “random attack,” 33-year-old Tenzin Norbu, of Toronto, was arrested.

He was initially charged with attempt murder, assault with a weapon, common nuisance endanger lives/safety of public, and mischief over $5,000 – interfere with property.

After Dolma died, the charges against Norbu were upgraded to include first-degree murder.

Police said at that time that they were treating the incident as a suspected hate-motivated offense.

They also said there was no relationship between the victim and the accused.

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Family of woman set on fire on Toronto bus releases statement after her death
Tuesday, July 5, 2022

The family of a woman who was set on fire while on a Toronto bus in a random attack last month has released a short statement following her death.

The incident took place on June 17 around 12:30 p.m. at Kipling Station, near Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street. Police say a man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on a female passenger while on a bus and then ignited the substance.

The woman, who was in her 20s, was rushed to hospital with second- and third-degree burns.

Police have confirmed to CP24 that the woman has died. The homicide unit has now taken over the investigation.

The victim’s family confirmed her passing in a statement posted to a GoFundMe campaign page raising money for her treatment. In the message, they thanked everyone for their support.

“My sister lived a life of service to others and cared for many people,” the statement said.

“We will be using the donations for upcoming funeral expenses and healthcare costs to date. At this time, we ask everyone to kindly please respect our privacy. Thank you for understanding and again, for your generosity. We’ll never forget your kindness.”

A 33-year-old man identified as Toronto resident Tenzin Norbu has been charged with attempted murder and assault with a weapon in connection with the incident. At the time, police also said they were treating the case as a suspected hate-motivated offence, although no further details have been provided.

The charges have not been proven in court.

Police have said that the attack was an isolated incident and that the victim and suspect were not known to each other.