A Canadian man accused of deliberately plowing his pickup truck into four members of a Muslim family said he had eaten a “magic mushroom” before getting behind the wheel – and couldn’t resist the “urge” when he saw the victims.
Closing arguments in the murder and violence trial of 22-year-old Nathaniel Veltman were presented on Tuesday in Windsor, Ontario, ending 10 weeks of testimony, BBC News reported.
Veltman took the stand in his own defense, telling jurors that he had consumed a large amount of psychedelic mushrooms about 40 hours before getting into his truck on June 6, 2021.
He admitted that thoughts of destroying Muslims crossed his mind on two separate occasions after taking drugs, but he resisted.
But when he saw Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their daughter Yumna Afzaal, 15, and his grandmother, Talat Afzaal, 73, enjoying an afternoon stroll together in London, Ontario, he couldn’t stop himself, he said.
Nathaniel Vetlman, 22, a suspected white nationalist, is on trial in Canada for the June 2021 crash that killed four members of a Muslim family. (Left to Right) Yumna Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Talat Afzaal and Salman Afzaal were all killed in the attack. Afzaal’s 9-year-old son (far left) survived. twitter
Veltman previously said he was in a “dream-like state” at the time of the crash, which also injured Salman’s 9-year-old son Afzaal.
The jury also heard from forensic psychiatrist Julian Gojer, who said that Veltman had been diagnosed with a number of mental health problems, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe depression, anxiety and personality disorders.
Gojer testified that psychedelic mushrooms likely further reduced Veltman’s mental health issues.
Defense attorney Christopher Hicks said during closing arguments that his client’s condition at the time of the incident was like a “runaway freight train headed for an explosion.”
Prosecutors said Veltman, pictured left, was wearing a bulletproof vest and military helmet at the time of the attack, and declared that he “did it on purpose.” AP
Veltman has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, as well as several terrorism charges stemming from prosecutors’ claims that the attack was motivated by the defendant’s white nationalist beliefs.
Jurors were shown video from the scene, which showed Veltman wearing a bulletproof vest and military helmet at the time of his arrest.
An onlooker claimed he saw Veltman laughing when police officers arrived and pulled him out of his blood-spattered truck.
When interviewed by detectives, the 20-year-old suspect identified himself as a white nationalist and said he attacked the family “because they are Muslims.”
Madiha Salman, a mother of two, was 44 years old when she died. Facebook/Madiha Salman
Prosecutors also played a recording of a 911 call made by Vetlman in court after the collision, in which he can be heard saying: “Come and get me, I did it on purpose.”
Federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh said at the start of the trial that Veltman planned his attack for three months before driving his newly purchased Dodge Ram truck “to the metal” straight into a Muslim family strolling on the sidewalk.
Shaikh said Veltman told detectives after he was arrested that his intentions were political, that he left his home on the day of the attack looking for Muslims to kill and that he used the truck to send messages to others that vehicles could be used for attacks. Muslims.
Veltman’s defense argued that he made the statement under duress, but a prosecutor insisted that his confession was “logical and coherent.”
Yumnah Afzaal’s friends hold signs before the vigil. AFP via Getty Images
“He hit exactly who he wanted to hit, exactly how he wanted to hit them,” said Crown attorney Fraser Ball.
Veltman faces up to life in prison, if convicted of the charges against him.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
