In your experience would you say his ASD is any mitigating factor in the planning and committing of his crime? What I mean is I've come across all sorts of characters with ASD but their conscious/self-aware actions have never been a result of their ASD, so I was interested in your experience - have you known the ASD trait itself to be the motivator? I'd say the ASD would have very little if anything to do with his chosen actions. That's not to say he doesn't have ASD, I'm sure he does if it's diagnosed, but a guy who plans to kill a child and smiles afterwards showing some awareness of what he's doing, is not doing it because of his autism but because he's a sick fck.
Tbh mate that is a near impossible question for me to answer.
My knowledge is quite limited but here are a few of my thoughts...
1. ASD displays differently in people.
If a person is supported they can learn to cope with some of the difficulties and use the strengths ASD gives them to excel.
2. High functioning ASD people (this does not mean geniuses!) can be aware they think differently or experience thd world differently but can be supported to cope and to learn skills needed to develop and maintain relationships.
The individual in this case seems to have been high functioning and was aware he was not receiving the support he needed.
Like I said, I ain't an expert, but to me it sounds like he also had some form of mental health issue as well as being ASD and it may have been this that led him to rationalise this act.
People who are ASD can also be ****ers just like those who are not can be but the fact that during his trial (he was in a room with a video link) he turned his back and curled into a ball when the childs family had an impact statement read out suggests that he is not a "evil" person...simply a person with an ASD diagnosis and a mental health problem.
Those with ASD are 4 times more likely to suffer from depression than those without.
Some studies suggest that 70% of all those with ASD also suffer from some form of mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorder etc. and are more likely to have ADHD (attention deficit snd hyperactivity disorder) or ADD ,(attention deficit disorder).
Without proper care and support it can be a difficult life.
With proper care and support it csn be just as rewarding a life as anyone else.
Sorry its such a long rambling attempt to answer.