With credit score for pretrial time served on onerous bail circumstances, Christal could have about 6½ years left to serve
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Taking part within the “brutal and cruel” slaying of an Uber driver within the metropolis has earned a Calgary-area man the equal of eight years in jail.
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Decide John McCarthy sentenced Andrew Christal on Thursday for his function within the stabbing loss of life of Kasif Hirani on December 29, 2019.
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The Courtroom of King’s Bench choose stated with credit score for time spent on tough bail circumstances, Christal would have about 6½ years left to serve.
McCarthy stated there have been quite a few aggravating circumstances that warranted a harsher sentence than Christal’s confederate, Trista Tinkler, acquired after pleading responsible to manslaughter in Hirani’s homicide.
Protection lawyer Jim Lutz argued there have been a number of mitigating elements that warranted a sentence lower than the six years Tinkler acquired final yr. He urged a sentence of 4 to 5 years.
However McCarthy agreed with Crown Prosecutor Vince Pingitore that there have been elements that elevated Christal’s ethical culpability in Hirani’s loss of life.
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Pingitore sought a sentence of eight to 10 years.
‘He willingly participated within the theft scheme’
Final April, Christal was convicted of a decreased cost of manslaughter in reference to Hirani’s deadly stabbing by the hands of Robert Daignault. He was charged with first-degree homicide, however jurors discovered that he was unaware Daignault was going to kill Hirani throughout a botched theft.
The trio compelled Hirani into the again seat of his automobile and drove him to a distant space close to Springbank Airport, demanding his financial institution info on the way in which.
Christal stated after they bought there, Daignault stabbed Hirani repeatedly earlier than they left him on the aspect of the nation street.
“He willingly participated within the theft scheme,” McCarthy stated, itemizing a number of elements that enhance Christal’s guilt.
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McCarthy says Christal’s presence within the again seat of Hirani’s automobile with the sufferer prevented his escape and famous that he had additionally earlier supplied Daignault with the knife used within the deadly assault.
“Mr. Christal knew that Mr. Hirani was alone and within the minority,” the choose stated.
“He knew that Mr. Daignault was harmful and unpredictable.”
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Earlier than he was sentenced, Christal addressed the choose.
“I simply screwed up,” he stated.
Sufferer simply celebrated marriage ceremony anniversary
Throughout sentencing final week, McCarthy additionally heard a sufferer impression assertion from Hirani’s widow, Salima Khetani.
Khetani advised the court docket that she and Hirani had simply celebrated their fifth marriage ceremony anniversary days early, on Christmas, and agreed that they might begin a household quickly.
She stated they migrated from their South Asian homeland to Canada as a result of “Canada is called a protected haven on earth.”
Daignault, whose trial has been postponed twice, is anticipated to face trial in November earlier than a choose sitting with out a jury on a cost of first-degree homicide.
KMartin@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
