No Warranty
Scammer hater
An Ottawa man has been found guilty of two charges in connection with the fatal hit and run of a homeless man in front of the Rideau Centre three years ago.
A jury found Vlad Precup, 34, guilty of dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.
The charges against Precup stem from a July 2008 incident in which Mitchell Anderson, 38, was struck by a red sports car and killed at the corner of Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive in the city's downtown.
Precup's mother broke down sobbing in the courtroom Friday as the verdict was handed down.
But there were tears of joy on the other side of the courtroom from Anderson's family, including his 20-year-old daughter, Christine DaCosta, who said she felt justice had been served.
Touched sports car
"I finally get my justice and my family gets what it deserves now," she said. "I can sleep at night knowing that the criminal got put away, and they deserve what they got."
The courtroom fell silent as Precup hugged his mother, handed over his belongings and was led outside to be driven to prison.
The jury heard that Anderson was on his way to see his daughter at an Elgin Street restaurant when he crossed the street in front of the sports car, a Mazda RX-8. The court heard that Anderson kissed his hand and then touched the hood of the vehicle, after which the driver revved his engine and ran down Anderson.
Anderson landed on the pavement and his skull was cracked open. By the time witnesses rushed to his aid, the sports car had already left the scene.
Faces 10 years in jail
Precup had been interviewed three times by police before he was charged in January 2009 and admitted to being behind the wheel of the car that struck Anderson.
Precup now faces up to 10 years behind bars, but the Crown is seeking a tougher sentence.
"Killing a man, fleeing the scene, leaving him dead on the ground? I think that deserves a very high sentence," said Crown lawyer John Ramsey. "I also think lying to the police afterwards about it, and keeping the daughter of the victim in limbo as she waits for some closure, I think that certainly warrants in favour of a heavy sentence."
Precup will be sentenced on June 27.
A jury found Vlad Precup, 34, guilty of dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.
The charges against Precup stem from a July 2008 incident in which Mitchell Anderson, 38, was struck by a red sports car and killed at the corner of Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive in the city's downtown.
Precup's mother broke down sobbing in the courtroom Friday as the verdict was handed down.
But there were tears of joy on the other side of the courtroom from Anderson's family, including his 20-year-old daughter, Christine DaCosta, who said she felt justice had been served.
Touched sports car
"I finally get my justice and my family gets what it deserves now," she said. "I can sleep at night knowing that the criminal got put away, and they deserve what they got."
The courtroom fell silent as Precup hugged his mother, handed over his belongings and was led outside to be driven to prison.
The jury heard that Anderson was on his way to see his daughter at an Elgin Street restaurant when he crossed the street in front of the sports car, a Mazda RX-8. The court heard that Anderson kissed his hand and then touched the hood of the vehicle, after which the driver revved his engine and ran down Anderson.
Anderson landed on the pavement and his skull was cracked open. By the time witnesses rushed to his aid, the sports car had already left the scene.
Faces 10 years in jail
Precup had been interviewed three times by police before he was charged in January 2009 and admitted to being behind the wheel of the car that struck Anderson.
Precup now faces up to 10 years behind bars, but the Crown is seeking a tougher sentence.
"Killing a man, fleeing the scene, leaving him dead on the ground? I think that deserves a very high sentence," said Crown lawyer John Ramsey. "I also think lying to the police afterwards about it, and keeping the daughter of the victim in limbo as she waits for some closure, I think that certainly warrants in favour of a heavy sentence."
Precup will be sentenced on June 27.