Judge finds Alek Minassian guilty of murder in van attack

Toronto, Canada – A judge has declared that Alek Minassian is guilty of 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.

In rendering her decision, Justice Anne Molloy said Minassian’s rampage was “the act of a reasoning mind,” noting that the 28 year old has “no remorse for it and no empathy for his victims.”

Molly said in her decision, “He freely chose the option that was morally wrong, knowing what the consequences would be for himself, and for everybody else. It does not matter that he does not have remorse, nor empathize with the victims.”

“Lack of empathy for the suffering of victims, even an incapacity to empathize for whatever reason, does not constitute a defence.”

Minassian had pleaded not guilty at the judge alone trial, which was held virtually at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

Boris Bytensky, defense layer for Minassian, said in his closing arguments that his client’s disorder left him without the ability to develop empathy, arguing that his client had no idea how horrific his actions were to his victims, his family and the community.

Molloy outright rejected that notion in her decision, adding, “He considered the impact it would have on his family, and deliberately set those thoughts aside, ignoring them, because he did not want them to deter him from achieving this important goal,” she said, noting Minassian had been fantasizing about a crime like this for over a decade. “He was capable of understanding the impact it would have on his victims.

“He knew death would be irreversible. He knew their families would grieve.”

Police say on the afternoon of April 23, 2018, Minassian drove a rented van down Yonge Street near Finch Avenue, driving onto the busy sidewalk and hitting one person after another.

After a brief standoff with police, he was subsequently arrested. His victims included an 80-year-old grandmother, and another woman who survived but had both of her legs amputated.