Friday, December 26, 2025
ADVT 
National

Minassian shows no anger, emotion, doctor says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Nov, 2020 06:32 PM
  • Minassian shows no anger, emotion, doctor says

A leading forensic psychiatrist says the man who killed 10 people in the Toronto van attack has shown no anger through all his evaluations.

Dr. John Bradford says Alek Minassian's complete lack of anger and emotion is in direct contrast with an American mass murderer he purportedly idolized.

Minassian has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.

The defence argues the 28-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., should be found not criminally responsible for his actions on April 23, 2018 due to autism spectrum disorder.

Minassian told a police detective that day the attack was retribution against society for years of sexual rejection by women.

Bradford says Minassian later told him he was not angry at women, but used the word "disappointed."

The psychiatrist said Thursday that Minassian is not psychotic and does not meet the "traditional" test to be found not criminally responsible for his actions.

Minassian also told Bradford he was motivated by the notoriety the attack would bring to anxiety over starting a new job.

Minassian has admitted in court to planning and carrying out the van attack and the only issue to be decided at trial is his state of mind at the time.

Another psychiatrist has testified that Minassian's autism spectrum disorder left him fixated on mass killings and vulnerable to the ramblings of an American mass murderer.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle
O'Toole allowed his MPs a free vote on the issue, part of his bargain with social conservatives that helped him secure the Conservative leadership in August.

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns
Prisoners transferred to the units are supposed to be allowed out of their cells for four hours each day, with two of those hours engaged in "meaningful human contact."

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election
In the 2016 presidential election, there were approximately 620,000 Americans in Canada who were eligible to cast ballots, though only around 32,000 did.

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can
The report's authors say it is more evidence that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting visible minorities, who are more likely to live in overcrowded housing and work in jobs that put them more at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now
The shortcomings in EI, flagged for years by experts, have been exposed by the pandemic, including that not every worker is covered, nor can everyone who is covered get benefits when they need them.

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that as of January 2019, an estimated 366 North Atlantic right whales remained in the ocean, down from the previous count of 412 in 2018. Oceana Canada campaign director Kim Elmslie said the decline is "a reality check."

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears