World · North America · 10 hrs ago
Alek Minassian drops appeal of convictions in Toronto van attack
Alek Minassian has abandoned his appeal of convictions for murder and attempted murder in Ontario.
In April 2018, he deliberately drove a rented van into pedestrians on a crowded Toronto sidewalk.
Eight women and two men died that day, and another victim died in 2021 from injuries sustained in the attack.
At trial, Minassian admitted planning and carrying out the attack but argued he should not be held criminally responsible because of his autism spectrum disorder.
The judge rejected that defence, finding the argument did not make him not criminally responsible.
He remains sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 25 years, plus a concurrent 20-year sentence for 15 attempted-murder counts; with the appeal dropped, he is no longer challenging his convictions.
Alek Minassian has abandoned his appeal of convictions for 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.
Ontario’s top court said he is no longer challenging the convictions.
Minassian filed a notice of appeal in July 2022, after being sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
He deliberately drove a rented van onto a crowded Toronto sidewalk on April 23, 2018, killing eight women and two men.
At trial, he admitted planning and carrying out the attack but argued he should be found not criminally responsible because of his autism spectrum disorder.
- Who
- Alek Minassian.
- What
- He abandoned his appeal of convictions for 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.
- When
- The appeal was abandoned by November 6, 2026. He filed a notice of appeal in July 2022.
- Where
- Toronto, Canada.
- Why
- Not stated.
Minassian’s defence
Prosecutors
Criminal responsibility
Minassian’s defence
Minassian argued he should be found not criminally responsible because of his autism spectrum disorder.
Prosecutors
Prosecutors argued he knew right from wrong and also had autism.
Empathy and decision-making
Minassian’s defence
The defence argued his autism meant he never developed empathy and could not make rational decisions.
Prosecutors
Not stated
Minassian drove a rented van onto a crowded sidewalk in Toronto, killing eight women and two men.
Minassian was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Minassian filed a notice of appeal.
Ontario’s top court said Minassian had abandoned his appeal.
- Appeal
- Abandoned by November 6, 2026
- Convictions
- 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder
- Attack date
- April 23, 2018
- Sentence
- Life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years
- Appeal notice
- Filed in July 2022