Man who killed 10 in Toronto van attack pleads not guilty

A Canadian man who killed 10 people when he drove a van on to a crowded Toronto sidewalk has pleaded not guilty and his lawyer said he will argue he is not criminally responsible because of his state of mind at the time.

Alek Minassian, 28, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder over the April 2018 attack, the worst mass murder in the city’s history.

Because he has admitted to the killings, the judge-only trial will instead focus on Minassian’s state of mind at the time of the attack.

“I am entering a plea of not criminally responsible for all of the counts,” Minassian said via a Zoom call on Tuesday.

Minassian’s lawyer, Boris Bytensky, said he will argue his client was not criminally responsible due to a mental illness.

Both the Crown and defence teams are expected to rely heavily on the testimony of medical and mental health experts.

“On a warm spring afternoon on 23 April 2018, numerous pedestrians were out along Yonge enjoying the sunshine when their worlds were shattered by the actions of Mr Minassian,” the prosecution lawyer Joe Callaghan said.

Reading a statement of facts that both sides agreed on, Callaghan said Minassian drove “straight at people”.

“The only issue at this trial is the criminal responsibility,” Callaghan said.

The prosecution showed family photographs of each of the victims’ faces as Callaghan detailed how they were struck. One of those killed was dragged for more 150 meters. Many were struck from behind.

The court heard of many serious injuries, including brain damage and amputated legs.

Minassian booked the rental on 4 April, weeks before the attack. “Minassian began planning the murders in advance,” Callaghan said.

The Toronto-based lawyer Angela Chaisson, who has participated in a number of trials centred on criminal responsibility, said it was extremely rare for Canadian judges to determine that a defendant was not criminally responsible for their actions.

“Most lay people buy into the Hollywood version, where unscrupulous people claim insanity and they get off. And it’s just not accurate,” said Chaisson. “In fact, the consequences of being found not criminally responsible can be, and often are, more severe than life in prison.”

Alongside the question of his mental state, a key element of Minassian’s trial is likely to be his association with the so-called “incel” ideology of men united by sexual frustration and a hatred of women.

After his arrest in April, Minassian told police officers that he was a virgin who had never had a girlfriend, admitted to using the van as a weapon and said he wanted to inspire more attacks.

Asked how he felt about the deaths, he replied: “I feel like I accomplished my mission.” Eight of the 10 killed were women.

The trial, long delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be streamed over Zoom.

A space at the Toronto Convention Centre has been set aside for the public to follow the proceedings, which are expected to last four weeks.