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The Nathaniel Veltman trial continued Thursday afternoon after several days off for a voir dire to determine the admissibility of some of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Julien Gojer's evidence.
Defence lawyer Christopher Hicks began the afternoon court session by rehashing Veltman's numerous mental health diagnoses which include obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, complex trauma, autism spectrum disorder, and aspects of several different personality disorders.
Hicks then began reviewing statements Veltman made while on the stand about a spontaneous trip he made to Toronto on June 5, 2021.
He asked Dr. Gojer the significance of Veltman describing his "urge to step on the gas."
Dr. Gojer told the jury that his interpretation of Veltman's statements is that he was focused on removing his obsessive urges, not killing people.
Hicks then moved on to Veltman's testimony about June 6.
He asked Dr. Gojer about the significance of Veltman talking to himself while at work. Dr. Gojer said that he doesn't view that as a psychotic symptom but as Veltman "having a conversation with himself," trying to work out his thoughts. He added that it signals to him that Veltman had disconnected from those around him.
Continuing with Veltman's testimony, Hicks asked if it's significant that Veltman described how the urge to drive into a group of Muslim people on his way home from work on June 6 had him "gagging."
Dr. Gojer replied that the visceral reaction Veltman felt showed that he was in a heightened state of anxiety. He again noted that his interpretation was that Veltman was "not talking about killing the individuals, he's talking about getting rid of the obsessions."
Hicks then asked about Veltman's testimony about driving into the Afzaal family.
The doctor said that Veltman's judgement was impaired and that he was only focusing on his obsession, not the consequences. "If we accept what [Veltman] says is the truth," he added.
Talat Afzaal, 74, her son Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, and their daughter Yumnah, 15, were all killed when they were struck by Veltman's pick up truck. Salman and Madiha's son, who was nine at the time, was the only survivor.
When Hicks asked specifically about Veltman referring to the young boy as "collateral damage," Dr. Gojer conceded that Veltman must have had a "certain degree of awareness for the consequences of his actions."
Hicks then highlighted that Veltman consistently used the phrase "crash into them" rather than saying "kill them," and asked Dr. Gojer what he believed that meant.
Dr. Gojer reminded the jury that Veltman is "not a normal person," adding that the wording alluded to Veltman's feelings of being disconnected.
Following an afternoon break, Hicks began to ask Dr. Gojer about Veltman's manifesto "A White Awakening."
The Crown objected to the line of questioning. "Attempting to go into Mr. Veltman's mind while he was writing the White Awakening is beyond the doctors purview," prosecutor Jennifer Moser said.
When Hicks rephrased and asked whether Veltman's manifesto directly referenced killing anyone Justice Renee Pomerance asked the jury to leave the room for legal arguments.
When the jury returned, Hicks changed his line of questioning and began to ask Dr. Gojer about psilocybin (magic mushrooms), the withdrawal effects of mushrooms on a person, and how he reached his conclusions.
Dr. Gojer said that he'd come to his conclusions about the aftereffects of psilocybin "straight from the research literature" that he'd read and through his experience with his clients.
He added that lingering aftereffects in people who have consumed mushrooms are "rare, but reported."
Hicks said he has a few more questions for Dr. Gojer, but he'd like to take the evening to discuss them with his co-counsel before asking them.
Court will resume at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Veltman has pleaded not guilty to four charges of terrorism-motivated first degree murder and one charge of terrorism-motivated attempted murder.