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After a bathroom break, during which Minassian displayed obsessive-compulsive qualities — using paper towel to turn off the taps then taking fresh paper towel to avoid touching the doorknob to open the door, explaining “I had to ensure that there would be no germs on my hand” — Thomas revisited his question of whether he had ever been intimate with a woman.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t,” Minassian said. He has never had a girlfriend and didn’t go to his high school prom.

He said he hadn’t had sex because, “I’m too nice.”

Minassian wasn’t asked detailed questions about his mental health. Several former classmates earlier described him as socially awkward and having behavioural issues. His mother, in an unrelated media interview before the attack, said her son had Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.

Asked about his religion, he said he was an atheist.

“I wasn’t raised with any religion,” he said.

In answer to questions about his travels, Minassian spoke of visiting Quebec for summer hiking at Mont-Tremblant, of family Christmas vacations in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles and a spring trip to Boston.

Thomas then confronted Minassian about his claim he took a bus to pick up the van. Minassian insisted he was telling the truth, but Thomas told him that Minassian’s father, Vahe, had already told police he dropped him off at a coffee shop nearby.

Minassian then admitted that was the case. He said he lied to protect his father. “I was worried that you would think he was an accomplice,” Minassian said, “but he was not aware of this.”

Minassian assured Thomas that everything else he said was true.

As the interview wound down, Thomas asked Minassian about his reaction to the deaths and injuries he was charged with. That’s when he chillingly said he accomplished his mission.

Thomas asked him if that is what he would tell the families of the van attack victims if they came into the room.

“I honestly don’t know what I would say,” Minassian answered.

“Would you apologize?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

Minassian was led out of the room at 3:04 a.m.

His trial is scheduled for next February.