The trial of Alek Minassian, accused of killing 10 people last year in Toronto's van attack on Yonge St., will be heard by a judge alone.
On Wednesday, the suspect appeared in a Toronto courtroom in a buttoned, light grey shirt as the defence withdrew a motion for a change of venue.
Both the Crown and defence agreed the case should be heard with no jury and Minassian's lawyer Boris Bytensky said he expects a fair trial in Toronto.
"There's no need to move the case," Bytensky said, as the case is scheduled for February, 2020.
"We have a very experienced judge and I'm sure that Mr. Minassian will receive the fairest trial possible."
Some of the highest-profile cases that changed venues include those of Paul Bernardo and Michael Rafferty.
While Bytensky said all parties agree on a judge-alone trial, he wouldn't comment further on what that means for his defense strategy.
"I can't talk about the defense at all," he said when asked about presenting a defence of not criminally responsible.
As he has before, he did not comment on how his client is doing.
Minassian is the lone suspect in the April 23, 2018 attack, when a van drove onto the sidewalks of Yonge St. in north Toronto, killing 10 people.
Along with 10 counts of murder, Minassian is also charged with 16 counts of attempted murder, in the worst mass killing in Toronto history.