The lawyer for a man accused of killing ten people by driving a van down a busy Toronto sidewalk has asked a judge to prevent the publication of his client’s statement to police.
Boris Bytensky argued to have Alek Minassian‘s statement placed under a publication ban until the man’s trial is complete, even if it comes up during the proceedings.
Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy described the request as asking to hold a secret trial.
Minassian faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder. He is set to stand trial before a judge alone next year.
Several media outlets, including The Canadian Press, are arguing against Bytensky’s request for the publication ban on Minassian’s statement to police.
WATCH: Van attack suspect Alek Minassian to be tried by judge alone in Toronto
Bytensky has argued that publishing the details would taint potential witnesses at trial, a position supported by the Crown.
But a lawyer for the media outlets says there is no evidence to support that argument and has cited the open-courts principle in arguing against the ban.
Molloy has reserved her decision on the matter until Aug. 16.