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- Jessie
Paul Sanghera,
30, of Surrey, pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene
of an accident involving death and to failing to stop at the scene
of an accident involving bodily harm.
- No jail for hit-and-run
driver
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UPDATED
NRI who
killed a Surrey teen during a hit and run incident in 2007 will
get no jail time
Surrey, Jan 19, 2009
Varinder Kumar
Jessie Paul Sanghera
will not spend a day in prison, but will serve a one year conditional
sentence, or one year of house arrest for the Sept. 8, 2007 hit-and-run.
Surrey provincial court Judge Peder Gulbransen
said:
- Jessie Paul Sanghera flee
the scene and try to conceal his involvement was "callous
and cowardly," but the driver had no criminal record, not
even a traffic ticket. And he had apologized and did eventually
confess.
- The conditional sentence is imposed- lets Sanghera continue
living at his home in Surrey with his parents under a form of
house arrest, with restrictions on travel outside the home except
for work, worship and medical purposes.
- His driver's licence was also suspended for two years
Sanghera apologized:
- In court, Sanghera apologized to the Faqirzada family and asked
for forgiveness.
- I stand before you all today ashamed.
- My actions were irresponsible and they were unacceptable. I'm
truly sorry for everything I have put you through.
- I never, ever, wanted any of this to happen.
Lemar's family expressed shock and dismay at the verdict,
response:
- "I don't think that's fair at all," says Lemar's
sister, Shila. "I don't think anyone would think that's fair."
- "What kind of life is in Canada? I can't believe that,"
says his mother, Homira Faqirzada. "I came as a refugee in
Canada to save my children's life, but only one year house arrest,
do you that's a right judgment? No it's not."
- It's too late for an apology, Lemar's mother Homira, who intends
to lobby the Crown prosecutor to appeal the sentence.
After the accident:
- RCMP forensic expert identified a paint chip found on Lemar
Faqirzada's clothing as coming from a blue Jetta, investigators
discovered a car of that exact make and model went to an ICBC
claim center with extensive front-end damage shortly after the
hit-and-run.
- The extensive damage to the front of the VW Jetta Sanghera was
driving was the result of a road rage incident. A man had attacked
the car with a baseball bat, a repair shop was told.
- Sanghera's cell phone records also revealed that a call in the
area of the hit-and-run that evening.
Major Iqbal Sanghera, father of Sanghera, was charged with public
mischief and fraud under $5,000 for allegedly making a false report
to police.
His trial is set for October.
Nov. 13, 2008:
Jessie Paul Sanghera 30,
of Surrey, pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of an
accident involving death and to failing to stop at the scene of
an accident involving bodily harm.
He will have his sentencing hearing on Jan. 9, 2009.
Faqirzada. said:
- I ask for the maximum punishment which the law will allow for
him – lifetime in jail
- First, because he killed my son. And second, for the future
of the community, we ask for the maximum penalty
- We didn't just lose our son, we lost all of our life and we're
always suffering
- He is a person who doesn't feel any responsibility for the law,
humanity or other people
Sep. 08, 2008
Sergeant Roger Morrow said: :
- The couple was hit by a small European car, rather than an SUV
as was suspected at the time. Jessie Sanghera, the alleged driver,
has been charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident
involving death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident
involving bodily harm. His father, Major, is charged with public
mischief and fraud under $5,000.
Sept. 12, 2007
-
On Sept. 8, 2007, just after midnight, Lemar
Faqirzada and Rochelle D’Emilio were crossing a marked
crosswalk south of the intersection at 152 Street and 96 Avenue.
-
The pair crossed against the "Don't Walk" sign at
night in a marked crosswalk near 152 Street and 96 Avenue.
-
As they walked west to east, they were struck by a small car
travelling northbound. The vehicle did not stop and accelerated
away from the scene, continuing north on 152 Street, police
said.
-
Faqirzada was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries.
-
D’Emilio suffered a broken leg but survived.
Lemar Faqirzada's parents, Mohammed and Homira Faqirzada, immigrated
to Canada from Afghanistan seven years ago, hoping to give their
five kids a safe and stable life, have one remaining son and three
daughters. They never suspecting the couple would live to see one
of them die here.
Lemar graduated from Enver Creek Secondary in 2007 and had just
finished his second day of studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
when he was killed.
Mohammed said, "Now our life is so difficult."
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Lemar
Faqirzada's parents, Mohammed and Homira Faqirzada, immigrated to
Canada from Afghanistan seven years ago