Toronto Cab Driver Charged with Murder (Running over a Skateboarder)

[Phil C. McNasty]

I wonder what happened here: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1178554--cabbie-charged-with-murder-in-skateboarder-s-death?bn=1

Its not vehicular homicide, or manslaughter. Its 2nd degree murder.
That means it was intentional, but not pre-meditated

Toronto police have charged a taxi driver with second-degree murder following a collision that killed a man on a skateboard Monday night.

The victim, 28-year-old Ralph Bissonnette, was struck by a taxi on King St. just east of Jarvis St. around 6 p.m. while riding a skateboard west on King St.

Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said homicide investigators spoke with a number of witnesses and have since laid the charge against 43-year-old Adib Ibrahim.

“It’s alleged the cab driver… intentionally made contact with the victim,” said Vella.

Police have also reviewed video that captured part of the incident. They are urging other witnesses to come forward.

Shortly after the accident, witnesses described a horrific scene.

“It was terrible,” said pedestrian Filip Dujic, who passed the scene only a few moments after the collision. “It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

An Emergency Medical Services team arrived minutes later, where they found the skateboarder lying against the curb with head injuries. The team rushed him to hospital where he died.

Police cordoned off part of the street with yellow tape and spent more than four hours reconstructing the crash.

As officers worked, the silver Toyota hybrid taxi remained along the street with a lone skateboard leaning on the curb in front of a rug store.

The collision tore off the longboard skateboard’s rear wheels, which ended up a few feet away near a storm sewer. Blood stained the curb. A backpack lay near the sidewalk.

Ibrahim is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday

 

[69Shooter]

My guess... both the cab driver and the skate boarder thought they were "right"... the skate boarder lost.

 

[fuji]

My guess... both the cab driver and the skate boarder thought they were "right"... the skate boarder lost.

That wouldn't result in a murder 2 charge, as PCM said. Murder 2 implies the driver made a conscious choice to run the guy down.

"It’s alleged the cab driver… intentionally made contact with the victim" - If I had to guess, there was some sort of confrontation between the skater and the driver, a few minutes earlier, and the driver road raged. But we will have to wait for the details.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Yeah, probably road rage. Thats what The Sun claims also:

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/15/cabbie-road-rage-probed-in-skateboarders-death



YIKES!!!! :Eek:

Another man said he is sure the victim was killed and had to look away from the grisly scene.

“I knew right away he was dead. His face was indented into the curb, part of his head was just missing. It was disgusting,” said Filip Dujic, 18, who arrived at the scene a few minutes later

 

[69Shooter]

That wouldn't result in a murder 2 charge, as PCM said. Murder 2 implies the driver made a conscious choice to run the guy down.

"It’s alleged the cab driver… intentionally made contact with the victim" - If I had to guess, there was some sort of confrontation between the skater and the driver, a few minutes earlier, and the driver road raged. But we will have to wait for the details.

I think we said the same thing Fuj. The skateboarder was probably boarding where he thought it was okay to board. The cab driver thought otherwise. Most likely, each of them decided to "defend" their position. In that process, the cab driver made the decision to hit the skateboarder and killed him (i.e., the skateboarder lost).

 

[GameBoy27]

Maybe he wanted to take the heat off the cabbie who ran over the guy in Montreal. Winning!

For the record, that's such a senseless waste of a young man's life and probably pretty much ruined the cabbie's as well. A bad decision on his part and if found guilty should be put behind bars for a long time. Not the usual 2-3 years with time served bla bla bla.

 

[DATYdude]

Awful. A terrible way to die. Someone's son/brother/uncle/friend is dead, someone's son/brother/uncle/friend may be going to jail for a long time. What a waste.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Awful. A terrible way to die. Someone's son/brother/uncle/friend is dead, someone's son/brother/uncle/friend may be going to jail for a long time. What a waste

No winners in this case

 

[rhuarc29]

Maybe he wanted to take the heat off the cabbie who ran over the guy in Montreal. Winning!

It'll probably put even more heat into that case actually.

 

[69Shooter]

This is exactly what can happen when impotent douchebag's who post on TERB how they have this right and that right on the road get behind the wheel.

Or, potentially, load up a grocery cart with a dozen items and get in the "8 items or less" check out line!

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

And if the skateboarder thought that he was not going to get pushed around by a fucking taxicab asshole... wrong. Dead wrong

Never bring a skateboard to a car-fight

 

[Mod100]

What happened here is very wrong but it was bound to happen.

Bikes, as an example, don't respect the rules of the road. They weave in and out of cars. Pass stationary cars waiting for red lights pushing to the front putting cars at fault should anything go wrong.

This is the first of many such situations that will happen this summer. One major attitude problem.

 

[fuji]

This wasn't a case of "putting cars at fault should anything go wrong", at least, not according to the police. They believe the driver hit the cyclist intentionally. Not by accident or though careless behavior, but rather, intentionally and purposefully ran him over.

Perhaps just before that incident the skater did something illegal, cutting off the cab, creating some sort of problem, and then the cab driver ran him over to get revenge. Just speculating, but it must be something like that, or it wouldn't be murder 2.

 

[Aardvark154]

In a third hand report in The Toronto Sun, a witness is alleged to have said that "He witnessed the cab driver veer purposely onto the curb” hence the unusual murder charge.

 

[Buick Mackane]

The cabbie should have asked himself, "what would a well connected Liberal lawyer do in this situation?"

He should have left the scene, then hired a top PR firm.

 

[great bear]

I believe the cab driver will get off skate free.

 

[richaceg]

What happened here is very wrong but it was bound to happen.

Bikes, as an example, don't respect the rules of the road. They weave in and out of cars. Pass stationary cars waiting for red lights pushing to the front putting cars at fault should anything go wrong.

This is the first of many such situations that will happen this summer. One major attitude problem.

What you're taking about are accidents waiting to happen...it seems this is not the case in the situation. when there's intent to kill this no longer becomes "should anything go wrong"...

 

[alex52]

Toronto is terrible place to drive in, full of aggressive drivers and and narrow streets. I'm glad I live in the sticks.

 

[great bear]

Wheely?

While the courts may acquit the driver the victim still has to face the Board

This thread is starting to board me.

 

[Mervyn]

Chargers will probably be dropped or lessened, the skater after all was on the road, moron.