A 28-YEAR-old Canadian who drove a van into pedestrians in a deadly attack three years ago in Toronto was found guilty of murdering 10 people and trying to kill 16 others.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Anne Molloy rejected defence arguments that Alek Minassian was incapable of discerning right from wrong because of his autism spectrum disorder (ASD), calling his crime “horrific”.

Minassian faces a minimum of 25 years in prison, but could get consecutive terms for each murder – effectively a life sentence over what is seen as one of Canada’s most grisly attacks.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled later this month.

“His attack on these 26 victims that day was an act of a reasoning mind, notwithstanding its horrific nature and notwithstanding that he has no remorse for it and no empathy for his victims,” Molloy said in her ruling.

“He knew it was morally wrong by society’s standards,” she said. “He chose to commit the crimes anyway.”

Molloy ruled that he was “criminally responsible for his actions”.

Minassian had admitted to planning and carrying out the April 2018 attack, leaving his state of mind at the time as the only issue considered during his six-week trial.

Psychiatrists and his father testified that he had been diagnosed as a child with a pervasive developmental disorder — now known as ASD.

Minassian’s mother has said he suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism that includes impaired social interactions or communication.

Defence lawyer Boris Bytensky argued that Minassian’s ASD left him incapable of making a rational choice when he decided to target bystanders, but Molloy was unswayed.

‘Right thing was done’

Catherine Riddell, who was injured in the attack, said outside the Toronto courthouse that she was “relieved” the trial was over and she could finally sleep well.

“I’m happy that he is going to be in jail for a very long time, and that we don’t need to worry about him,” she told AFP.

“I’m not in a party mood, because it’s not a celebration. Nobody wins in this, but the right thing was done.”

Nick D’Amico, whose sister was killed in the attack, told reporters he too can finally breathe more easily after “holding my breath for three years.”

Advocacy groups had condemned the use of autism as a defence, expressing concern it would further stigmatize those with the disorder.

“Violent traits have no connection to autism; in fact, people on the autism spectrum are far more likely to be victims as opposed to perpetrators of violence,” the Ontario Autism Coalition said.

“The court’s decision makes it clear this was never a case of autism causing mass murder, but rather a case where someone who committed mass murder happened to have autism.”

© – AFP, 2021