'Extremely disappointed': Family of homicide victim storms out of courtroom as judge reads decision
Emotions boiled over after a judge acquitted two out of three defendants in a manslaughter case, while the third accused has since died.
It's been exactly four years to the day that Scotty Pate, 27, was shot and killed on Ashland Avenue, south of Dundas Street in London, Ont.
Days following the shooting, London police arrested and charged three people. Denny Doucet, 40, Nicole Moyer, 35, of London, and Jason Sylvestre, 36, of Windsor.
All three people were charged with manslaughter in connection with Pate's death — all three were out on bail.
The judge-alone-trial began last October, and had been delayed a number of times.
Today, before reading her verdict, Justice Patricia Moore told the court she had sent off her decision for a final edit and on Sunday, she was notified that one of the three defendants, Sylvestre, passed away in a motorcycle crash last month in Windsor, Ont.
After reviewing all the evidence heard during the initial three-week trial last year, Moore said she could not rely on a central witness' testimony, who died before the court proceedings began.
The key witness, Chris McNeil, who had testified in a preliminary trial and was able to link all three of the accused together, said that on the day of Pate's death, he was asked by Sylvestre if he wanted to help him rob Pate, but he refused. He added that Moyer said she’d drive, and Doucet was there too.
On that same night McNeil got a call from a panicked Sylvestre who said, “Something went wrong.”
McNeil testified, “Jay [Sylvestre] said he wrapped a gun in his shirt and threw it under a dumpster and asked me to go get it.”
During the trial, court heard that Sylvestre tried-on a black t-shirt that was recovered by police, behind a tire shop on Dundas Street, next to a dumpster and wrapped around a handgun.
During his testimony, McNeil also said he received a call from accused Denny Doucet who told him to report the car stolen. But McNeil said he didn’t know the “car was used in murder.”
That vehicle was found, burnt out, with no forensic evidence to trace.
Justice Moore said based on McNeil’s lengthy criminal record, that included over 36 convictions and previous incidents where he lied to police, she felt it was "unsafe to convict based on his testimony."
Moore acquitted Doucet and Moyer of conspiracy to commit robbery and manslaughter, but told the court she would have convicted Sylvestre, of manslaughter in Pate’s death.
Before court proceedings began, Pate’s family members were told by Moyer’s lawyer not to threaten or speak to the defendant or they would be thrown out of the courtroom.
Additional court constables had to be called in during the proceedings.
After the verdict was read, Pate’s family began shouting at the defendants and stormed out of the courtroom visibly upset.
Speaking to CTV News shortly after the verdict was read, Pate’s Aunt Ronnette Moxley-Lee said their family is "extremely disappointed."
"That's another gut punch for the family… four years to the day, and we walk out of here with sad faces, and they get to go home to their families,” said Moxley-Lee.
Since Sylvestre passed away, the manslaughter charge against him has been abated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The best that we can be': Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy.
India's Modi, Canada's Trudeau condemn violence at Hindu temple near Toronto
The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Frustration over Mideast war in America's largest Arab-majority city may push some away from Democrats
As an ongoing part of Omar on the Road: America Decides 2024, CTV National News visited the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus to talk to Arab-American students about why they’re feeling left out of the Democrats’ tent.
3 people arrested after incident during protest at Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont.: Peel police
Peel Regional Police say three people are in custody as they continue to investigate an incident during a demonstration at a Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday.
Judge rules against Alberta casino, dinner theatre operator
An application to stay a receivership order of Mayfield Investments Ltd., a company that owns multiple businesses in Alberta including the Camrose Resort and Casino, Medicine Hat Lodge and Calgary's Stage West Dinner Theatre, has been denied by the court.
Ikea will pay 6 million euros to East German prisoners forced to build their furniture in landmark move
Furniture giant Ikea has agreed to pay 6 million euros (US$6.5 million) towards a government fund compensating victims of forced labour under Germany's communist dictatorship, in a move campaigners hope will pressure other companies to follow.
Police arrest Netanyahu aide as opponents accuse him of leaking intelligence to thwart Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
Israeli police have arrested a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegedly leaking classified information to foreign media.
Candlelight vigil held outside Halifax Walmart where employee was found dead
Hundreds of mourners took part in a candlelight vigil Sunday night for a young woman who was found dead at a Halifax Walmart last month.