Toronto van killer's autism defence enrages advocacy groups
Alek Minassian, who has admitted killing 10 and injuring 16 others, claims he is not criminally responsible because of his mental state
Leyland Cecco in Toronto
Wed 23 Dec 2020 05.00 EST
Lawyers for Alek Minassian do not deny that he drove a rental van down a crowded sidewalk on Torontos busiest street on a spring afternoon two years ago, unleashing a frenzy of terror and pain in Canadas largest city.
His actions in April 2018 took the lives of Renuka Amarasingha, Betty Forsyth, Ji Hun Kim, Dorothy Sewell, Anne Marie DAmico, So He Chung, Andrea Bradden, Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, Geraldine Brady and Munir Najjar. Sixteen others were left with serious injuries, including brain damage and amputated limbs.
None of that has been denied by Minassians legal team during his trial for murder.
Minassian has already admitted to renting the van and plowing through crowds of pedestrians but he pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/toronto-van-killer-autism-defence-alek-minassian
Alek Minassian