Defence psychiatrist in Minassian trial to testify for 6th straight day

Alek Minassian’s murder trial continues Monday, with a psychiatrist retained by the defence set to testify for the sixth straight day.

Minassian pleaded not guilty to ten counts of first-degree murder and 16 of attempted murder in Toronto’s 2018 van attack.

He’s admitted to planning and carrying out the attack, but argues he’s not criminally responsible due to his autism spectrum disorder.

• Minassian told doctors he knew at the time of attack that his actions would be extremely devastating and irreversible

Dr. Alexander Westphal has said Minassian lacks empathy and doesn’t understand the moral wrongfulness of killing ten people.

He stopped short of arguing Minassian was not criminally responsible for his actions, saying that’s a legal matter and not a psychiatric one.

Minassian has told Westphal he knew what he did was morally wrong, but the psychiatrist did not include that statement in his final report.