Judge approves $2M payment from accused to shooting victim

El Mismo · Guru

RE: Judge approves $2M payment from accused to shooting victim

luna chiquitita · TOP Guru

So I was listening to the news regarding this story and they brought up something quite interesting....

Does this create a dangerous legal precedent?

1. Will criminals be able to BUY shorter jail terms?

2. Will some people "set-up" similar acts in order to receive this kind of money (sounds twisted I know but ppl are NUTS nowadays)?

Any similar case to hit the courts from here on out will use this as a precedent for their case and we'll see similar "pay-outs" in the future.

I personally think she did the right thing in taking the money. This way she does not have to go to civil court and sue each of the defendants personally, wasting months maybe even years trying to get some form of compensation out of these guys personally. It provides closure to her and her family.

BTW, she not only lost her ability to walk but she also lost the ability to take care of her mentally challenged daughter and THAT ALONE must hurt her more than her not being able to walk.

Jaime Cruz · Foro Master

I agree that she deserves the money, BUT they should not have allowed the suspects/criminals to pay for it and get a reduced sentence. The Government has a program for victims like this that would have paid her the same amount and given these men the full sentence.
Only thing is she wouldn't have recieved the 2 Million in one lump sum, it would have been monthly installments of $25,000.00

JOKER_ESCO · Foro Master

I agree with both of u, only she know how much it hurts not 2 be able 2 help her family.

NeNa · Guru

Julie wrote:

NeNa wrote: I think she had the right to take that money... although $2M is not enough to pay for her injuries and her suffering through out this time........ The poor woman can't walk..... and to me $2M is not going to give her back what she lost!!! Yup, $2M is little money for what she already went through, I don't even know if it will cover all the expenses she had so far.

of course... all the expenses she had....seriously..

I feel sorry for her.. she is very strong to have gone through all these!!!

Julie · Comandante

NeNa wrote:

I think she had the right to take that money... although $2M is not enough to pay for her injuries and her suffering through out this time........ The poor woman can't walk..... and to me $2M is not going to give her back what she lost!!!

Yup, $2M is little money for what she already went through, I don't even know if it will cover all the expenses she had so far.

NeNa · Guru

I think she had the right to take that money... although $2M is not enough to pay for her injuries and her suffering through out this time........

The poor woman can't walk..... and to me $2M is not going to give her back what she lost!!!

Julie · Comandante

Regardless ofbeing dirty money or not because it seems to be the "issue" for the media at least, she's was right.

C'mon, the lady lost her mobility and a big chunk of her freedom and much more I think.

The worst part is that the guys will be elligable for parole :notsureatallofthespelling: within 18 months max.

JOKER_ESCO · Foro Master

What do u guys think about this??? Do u guys thinks she did the right thing by taking the money??

Personally I think she did what she had 2 do 4 her family.

Judge approves $2M payment from accused to shooting victimLast Updated Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:06:37 EDT
CBC News

Five men charged in a shooting that left a woman in Toronto paralyzed will pay the victim $2 million in a plea arrangement approved Wednesday by an Ontario judge.

Louise Russo will receive the money to help pay for her recovery from a bullet that shattered her spine as she stood in line at a Toronto sandwich shop in April 2004.

Russo, a 45-year-old mother of three, was partially paralyzed and uses a wheelchair.

The plea arrangement was approved by Ontario's attorney general but condemned by opposition politicians, who charged that those responsible for wounding Russo were being allowed to trade money for lighter prison sentences.

Shooting victim Louise Russo on the $2-million restitution: 'It meets my cost-analysis, but it's not going to bring my body back to where it was.' (CBC)

Russo said she and her family were "satisfied with the outcome" and thanked police and her lawyers in a brief news conference after the deal was approved.

"It meets my cost-analysis, but it's not going to bring my body back to where it was," she said.

While Russo said the media coverage about the plea bargain over the last few days has left her mentally and physically drained, she hopes it has helped to raise awareness of crime victims' lack of rights and compensation.

"I'm hoping one day to be able to forgive them [the men], but I'm not there yet," she said.

An innocent bystander, Russo was shot during an attempt on the lives of two organized crime figures.

Jail sentences range up to 10 years

In addition to approving the payment on Wednesday, Superior Court Justice David Watt sentenced the five men to jail terms ranging from 17 months to 10 years. The five had pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and conspiracy to commit murder.

The man who pulled the trigger got 10 years, while three others got sentences ranging from nine years to 10 years.

A fifth man, who was not involved in the actual shooting but was charged with crimes associated with it, received 17 months.

All five men have been in custody since 2004.

Deal sets 'horrible precedent,' says opposition politician

The deal negotiated among prosecutors, police and lawyers will see Russo paid restitution out of a sum of money seized from the men during and after the arrests.

Lawyers for both sides recommended that the five pay $2 million in restitution and serve sentences ranging from three to 12 years.

Opposition politicians have berated the government for the deal.

Last week, Bob Runciman – a Conservative member of the provincial legislature – accused the governing Liberals of setting a "horrible precedent," suggesting the deal amounts to wealthy people or those who have made money from their crimes "paying for lesser sentences."

Restitution didn't affect jail terms: attorney general

Attorney General Michael Bryant said in a news conference Wednesday after the sentencing that financial restitution is not unusual in such cases and does not affect jail terms.

"Our courts will not shave jail time off for restitution," he said.

"If this restitution makes [Russo's] life somewhat more manageable, that's justice served for her and for all other Ontarians."