The focus of expert testimony is on impact of autism on accused, Alek Minassian, not a general statement. But the commonality is social insight, or lack of it.

What is autism? A neuro development condition, strongly inherited says expert in trial or accused in Toronto van attack

Rigid thinking and evident brain differences tied to development stages where it becomes apparent says expert. One is in domain of social communication and in non verbal communication, like eye contact.

Hallmark features include restrictive repetitive behaviours, a cluster of behaviours lead to autism diagnosis that impair social interactions, says Westphal.

Expert speaks to spectrum of autism diagnosis that is a complex picture of several functions, including language and motor skills

Westphal spoke with Minassian’s family and reviewed previous assessments and says that “tons of things” were going on that set him apart, including family history of depression, ADHD and dementia. Notably absent developmental disorders, schizophrenia

Fact that Minassian was born several later than expected is also risk factor for autism says Westphal. Other signs as an infant/toddler was lack of eye contact, banged head on wall, speech delay, difficulty following directions

Expert in defence continues with review of Minassian childhood assessments, no pretend play, avoided playing with others and licked things. In other ways he developed normally, such as walking and toilet trained by age 3. Uneven development is not uncommon says Westphal

For people with autism like Keila Alex Echakowitz the fact autism is being used as a defense to suggest the accused in the Toronto van attack is not criminally responsible is "traumatizing" and only adds to stigma people on the spectrum endure

Court is hearing from the defence's star witness, Dr. Westphal who is laying out the difficulty people on the autism spectrum face in connecting to social cues and clues

At the core of the controversial defense, the accused cannot appreciate the moral difference between right and wrong.

The definition of empathy is being discussed. To understand and resonate with emotions and mind states of other people is how the defence expert explains it.

Defense expert says he assessed Minassian's empathy quotient using standardized tests and that he was well below the cutoff, strongly suggestive he says of autism & suggestive he has problems processing stimuli that should provoke empathy

Court continues to hear about the range of tests that Minassian underwent that diagnose all the bases related to the developmental history of someone with autism.

Three domains are addressed in autism diagnosis court hears. Deficits in language & social interactions as well as repetitive behaviour

Court hears how in practical terms, with Minassian you get a sense of someone who is highly articulate and can lose sight of how disabled he is in functional ability to apply that intelligence on real world problems

In the long exhaustive review of diagnostic tests of autism, Westphal says Minassian's "strikingly" low score on empathy puts him in the range of psychopathy, and in this case, the absence of Minassian's awareness of how devastating his actions were.

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