Alek Minassian drops appeal of Toronto van attack convictions
Alek Minassian, convicted in the deadly 2018 Toronto van attack, is no longer challenging his more than two dozen convictions, Ontario's top court says.
Alek Minassian drops appeal of Toronto van attack convictions
Alek Minassian has abandoned his appeal of convictions on 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 of attempted murder from the April 23, 2018 Toronto van attack, Ontario's top court says.
In brief
- Alek Minassian has abandoned his appeal of 10 first-degree murder and 16 attempted murder convictions.
- He was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 25 years in June 2022.
- Ten people were killed in the April 23, 2018 Toronto van attack.
- An eleventh victim died in 2021 from injuries sustained in the attack.
Appeal abandoned
Minassian has abandoned the appeal of his convictions on 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 of attempted murder. He had filed a notice of appeal in July 2022, about a month after he was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. He was also sentenced to 20 years for 15 counts of attempted murder, to be served concurrently.
The 2018 attack
Eight women and two men died on April 23, 2018, when Minassian deliberately drove a rented van down a crowded sidewalk in Toronto. He admitted at trial that he planned and executed the attack, but argued that he should be found not criminally responsible due to his autism spectrum disorder. Prosecutors argued Minassian is a mass killer who knew right from wrong and happens to also have autism. The presiding judge, Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy, rejected the defence's argument that Minassian never developed empathy as a result of his autism and was unable to make rational decisions.
The 10 people killed in the rampage were Ji Hun Kim, 22; So He Chung, 22; Anne Marie D'Amico, 30; Andrea Bradden, 33; Chul Min "Eddie" Kang, 45; Renuka Amarasingha, 45; Dorothy Sewell, 80; Geraldine Brady, 83; Munir Najjar, 85; and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Forsyth, 94. Another victim, Amaresh Tesfamariam, died in 2021 from injuries sustained in the attack.
Why it matters
The abandonment of the appeal means Minassian's convictions and sentence stand without further challenge from him in this proceeding.
Sources
- globalnews.ca: Alek Minassian, convicted in deadly 2018 Toronto van attack, drops appeal | Globalnews.ca
- thespec.com: Alek Minassian, convicted in deadly 2018 Toronto van attack, drops appeal
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
Questions readers ask
- Who abandoned their appeal of the Toronto van attack convictions?
- Alek Minassian, who was convicted in the deadly 2018 Toronto van attack, has abandoned his appeal of his convictions.
- What specific convictions did Minassian stop challenging?
- Minassian abandoned the appeal of his convictions on 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.
- When did Minassian file the notice of appeal that was later abandoned?
- He had filed a notice of appeal in July 2022, about a month after he was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
- Who were the victims killed in the April 23, 2018 attack?
- The 10 people killed were Ji Hun Kim, So He Chung, Anne Marie D'Amico, Andrea Bradden, Chul Min "Eddie" Kang, Renuka Amarasingha, Dorothy Sewell, Geraldine Brady, Munir Najjar, and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Forsyth.
- Why does the abandonment of the appeal matter?
- The abandonment of the appeal means Minassian's convictions and sentence stand without further challenge from him in this proceeding.
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