The motorist who mowed down little Mariia in December 2022 before continuing on his way was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 months in home prison. A “short” period of detention appropriate, according to the judge, for this “man without history”, full of remorse and without risk of reoffending.
The case had moved Quebec. A little girl of 7 years, a refugee from the war in Ukraine, killed so stupidly while crossing the street to go to school. The death of Mariia Legenkovska had then provoked a questioning of the place given to cars near schools.
Little Mariia was walking at the intersection of De Rouen and Parthenais streets in the Ville-Marie borough (near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge) that fateful morning of December 13, 2022. But behind the wheel of her imposing 2018 Jeep Cherokee SUV, Juan Manuel Becerra Garcia never saw the girl cross the intersection.
The driver was then blinded by the sun. He looked left at the intersection, but never looked to his right, where there was a Société de transport de Montréal bus. It was while passing in front of the bus that the little girl was mowed down by the accused. As he was leaving, he felt a bump on the hood and felt like he felt a bump under the rear tire. It was a few hours later that he surrendered to the authorities.
It is important to clarify that Juan Manuel Becerra Garcia was not accused of having killed little Mariia. According to the evidence, he respected the Highway Safety Code, he was not under the influence of alcohol and was not driving too fast. In fact, he never would have been charged if he hadn’t left without checking what happened at the intersection.
Juan Manuel Becerra Garcia pleaded guilty last month to one count of hit-and-run causing death, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Crown prosecutor Sylvie Dulude and defence lawyer Eric Coulombe presented the judge with a joint suggestion of 12 months of house arrest (suspended).
Judge Pierre E. Labelle ratified this sentence Wednesday morning at the Montreal courthouse. The magistrate did not identify any aggravating factors. As mitigating factors, he highlighted the accused’s admission of guilt, his sincere remorse, the fact that he surrendered to the authorities and his lack of criminal record. Furthermore, his risk of recidivism is low, if not non-existent.”
The judge wanted to address little Mariia’s mother, who was not in the courtroom. “Nothing in this decision will change this tragedy. I hope that time can ease your suffering,” he said.
In the press scrum, Juan Manuel Becerra Garcia apologized to the family in a brief statement in English.
He will be banned from driving for two years.
