Psychiatrist Stops Short of Saying Van Attack Killer Is Not Criminally Responsible

Crown attorney Joe Callaghan (clockwise from top left), Justice Anne Molloy, accused in the April 2018 Toronto van attack Alex Minsassian and Dr. Alexander Westphal are shown during a murder trial conducted via Zoom videoconference, in this courtroom sketch on Nov. 30, 2020. The Canadian Press/Alexandra Newbould

TORONTO—A psychiatrist testifying for the defence of the man who killed 10 people in Toronto’s van attack stopped short Wednesday of saying Alek Minassian should be found not criminally responsible for his actions.

Dr. Alexander Westphal said Minassian was incapable of “rational choice” at the moment of the attack on April 23, 2018, based on his irrational thoughts due to autism spectrum disorder.