TORONTO (AP) - The case of a man accused of driving a van into pedestrians in Toronto and killing 10 people will head straight to trial without a preliminary hearing.
Alek Minassian of Richmond Hill, Ontario faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder in connection with the April 23 attack.
The prosecution says Thursday that the deputy attorney general has granted the request to proceed by a direct indictment.
Authorities haven’t disclosed a motive. But they have said Minassian posted a message on social media referencing a misogynistic online community before he plowed a rental van into crowds of pedestrians. Eight of the 10 killed were women.
Minassian’s lawyer says it will be 10 to 18 months before the trial starts. His client has not entered a plea.
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