Greg Simard pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter Friday morning in a London court.
Simard, 31, was accused of a vicious attack on a 12-year-old autistic boy from Waterloo Region.
Last September, when the attack took place, the boy was staying at a specialized health care facility in London where Simard was employed.
The boy was found by police naked from the waist down and beaten badly enough that his eyes were swollen shut.
He spent six months in hospital before returning home, but now requires around-the-clock care and needs assistance to eat, walk and use the bathroom.
Despite the guilty plea, Simard may be found not criminally responsible for the attack.
In an interview shortly after his arrest, Simard told police “I killed a retard; it’s no big deal.”
A hearing to determine Simard’s mental capacity began Friday afternoon in London. If he is found not criminally responsible, the case will not go to trial.
Gord Cudmore, Simard’s lawyer, told CTV News earlier this week that his client may suffer from a mental disorder.
“If your mental disorder is such that you don’t understand what it is you’re doing or you’re not able to distinguish right from wrong, you can be held not criminally responsible,” he said.
The judge in the case has decided to reserve a decision on Simard’s mental fitness until after reviewing all of the evidence.
Simard had been charged with attempted murder, forcible confinement and assaulting a police officer.
With files from CTV London
