Man accused in military centre stabbings should be acquitted of terror charges: defence

TORONTO — Lawyers for a Toronto man accused of attacking soldiers at a military recruitment centre two years ago say he should be acquitted of terror-related charges and found not criminally responsible for lesser offences in the case on account of his mental state and the fact he has no affiliation to a terrorist group. Ayanle Hassan Ali has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of assault causing bodily harm and one count of carrying a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, all “at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group.”

The 2016 incident at a north Toronto military recruitment centre left at least two soldiers with minor injuries. In written arguments filed as part of Ali's trial, defence lawyers argue the 30-year-old — who a psychiatrist said shows signs of schizophrenia — should be acquitted on the terror-related charges altogether and found not criminally responsible for the lesser included charges of attempted murder, assault and weapons offences. The Crown, however, wants the 30-year-old to be found not criminally responsible for the terror offences, the defence has said in written arguments filed in court earlier this week. Ali is scheduled to return to court April 20, when defence lawyers are expected to make further legal arguments about his criminal responsibility. Finding someone not criminally responsible acknowledges that the person committed the crime they are accused of but, as a result of a mental disorder, they were incapable at the time of appreciating that their actions could cause harm, or were unacceptable by societal standards, Ali's lawyers explained in their arguments. Ali tried to stab or slash three other military personnel — one of whom was left with bruises and a "small, superficial nick" — before being subdued, the statement said. On Monday, defence witness Dr. Gary Chaimowitz, who has supervised Ali's treatment as an in-patient at a forensic psychiatry hospital unit for most of the past two years, testified that Ali has shown signs of schizophrenia, including delusions and paranoia, since about 2010.
Lawyers representing Ayanle Hassan Ali, accused of three attempted murders in a 2016 Toronto knife attack on Canadian soldiers, say he should be acquitted entirely of allegations the charges had a terrorist motive and found not criminally responsible for the underlying offences on the grounds of his mental health.