Posted: Mar 04, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: March 4
Despite an judge finding the driver in Toronto s deadly van attack guilty on all 10 counts of first-degree murder, there is concern among the autism community that the trial itself, which saw autism argued as a defence, further stigmatized those with the disorder.(Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press)
When Michael Cnudde, who has autism, learned that lawyers for the man accused of Toronto s deadly van attack in 2018 would be using the disorder as a defence for their client, his immediate reaction was: How dare they?
Yet despite the rejection of that argument on Wednesday by Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy, who found Alek Minassian guilty on all 10 counts of first-degree murder, there is still concern that the trial itself further stigmatized the autistic community.
Published Wednesday, March 3, 2021 5:02PM EST TORONTO The judge who found Alek Minassian guilty of murder and attempted murder in the Toronto van attack set Canadian precedent Wednesday by considering autism a mental disorder under the Criminal Code. Justice Anne Molloy ruled that autism spectrum disorder did not leave the 28-year-old not criminally responsible for killing 10 people and injuring 16 others, but her decision to consider that possibility means the argument could be made in future cases. Some legal experts expressed concern about the implications of Molloy s decision, while members of the autism community said it would further stigmatize those living with the condition.
SASKATOON Instead of gathering at in-person vigils across the country, due to the pandemic many in Canada and around the world observed International Disability Day of Mourning online and remembered disabled people who’ve been killed by family and caregivers. Hundreds of people have shared their thoughts and remembrances online using the hashtag DisabilityDayofMourning, including Canadian advocate Kim Sauder, who hosts the blog Crippled Scholar. She told CTVNews.ca by phone on Monday that this day is when “disabled people all around the world commemorate and mourn disabled people who’ve been murdered.” This isn’t a condemnation by the way. Creating that video was a month long process of remembrance and mourning.