The man who committed the Toronto van attack that saw 10 people dead and 16 injured was found guilty of all 26 counts. A timetable for sentencing will come on March 18.
Justice Anne Molloy, who asked of journalists to not publish the perpetrator's name, delivered the verdict on Wednesday.
Molloy said that much hinged on whether the perpetrator knew the crime was morally wrong rather than legally wrong. This would mean he lacked rational perception and thus rational choice, being unable to rationally evaluate what he was doing.
Molloy said that it was clear to her that he knew the actions would be seen "by the vast majority of society as morally wrong."
Molloy said that she found the defence had failed to prove that the perpetrator did not know that his crimes were morally wrong.
"He knew it was legally wrong to kill people, he also knew that his plan to run down and kill people constituted first degree murder... That's why Mr. Doe attempted death by cop," said Molloy.
The culprit had already admitted to renting a van and driving it on the sidewalk in North York in April of 2018, intentionally striking civilians and killing mostly women. The shocking incident was categorized by many as an "incel" terror attack.
Incels, a portmanteau of "involuntary celibate," typically describes a young man who cannot attract women sexually.
Molloy also said that the perpetrator rented the van more than three weeks prior tot he attack, and intentionally sought a van that was large enough to cause the maximum damage possible, but was small enough to maneuver on sidewalks and to make sharp turns.
The culprit's lawyers argued that his autism made it impossible for him to recognize the severity of his actions, something Molloy said the defence did not accomplish.
It's the first major case where an autism spectrum disorder has been used in an attempt to find someone not criminally responsible for a murder in Canada, according to CTV.
The criminal code of Canada says that being not criminally responsible means one is "incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of the act or omission or of knowing that it was wrong."
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
