A tear falls on Sarah Piché-Sénécal’s cheeks. “That won’t bring him back to me.” Nothing is going to change that. It’s a tragedy…” she breathes, her voice breaking. Theodore Gliga, her jealous ex-partner, has just admitted to having killed his new boyfriend following a stormy separation.
The emotion was palpable Wednesday morning in the crowded room of the Montreal courthouse. About twenty relatives of the victim, Rance Sullivan, dried their tears while listening to the story of his death.
Theodore Gliga, a 30-year-old Montrealer, cut short the legal process by pleading guilty to a reduced count of manslaughter. He was charged with second degree murder. The killer remained unmoved throughout the hearing.
September 30, 2022. Theodore Gliga still does not accept his separation from Sarah Piché-Sénécal, even a year later. Their relationship lasted two years and ended amid domestic violence. “I’ll kill you if you don’t do what I say!” », had launched Gliga to his ex in 2021.
Despite the breakup, one element still allowed him to maintain a connection with her: their dog, of which they share custody.
That morning, around 5 a.m., Theodore Gliga showed up unexpectedly at Sarah Piché-Sénécal’s house to take his dog for a walk. He is accompanied by a friend. Sarah now lives with her new boyfriend, Rance Sullivan. They have a roommate, Justin Hunt, aka “Storm”. When Gliga asks for the dog, a conflict breaks out between him and the roommate. He grabs the accused by the throat.
COURTESY PHOTO
Rance Sullivan, the victim
Theodore Gliga nevertheless leaves the apartment with the dog and tells his ex that she will never see the animal again. The victim, Rance Sullivan, and the roommate, Hunt, then set off in pursuit. Justin Hunt catches up with Gliga, orders him to release the dog and punches him in the face. Gliga responds by brandishing a knife, cutting him in the process.
But Rance Sullivan does not give up and pursues the accused. During an altercation, Gliga stabbed Sullivan in the chest and fled. A fatal injury. Justin Hunt was first arrested for murder because he had the knife and was covered in blood. He was ultimately cleared.
In front of the police, Theodore Gliga said he felt “in danger” when the victim grabbed him by the shoulders. He then turned to push it with both hands, while he was holding a piece of metal. He said he didn’t want to hurt Sullivan and didn’t know he was hurt when he ran away.
By pleading guilty, however, Gliga acknowledges that he did not act in self-defense. “He recognizes that even if he did not want to kill the victim, there would have been ways to escape the conflict with the victim,” said Crown prosecutor M.e Jade Coderre summarizing the facts.
“For me it was not an involuntary gesture. I’m still a little in shock. What is important is that he admitted that he was not acting in self-defense,” declared Sarah Piché-Sénécal, in the press scrum.
The woman said she regretted having “minimized” Gliga’s actions at the time. “I didn’t want to cause any trouble. I was still scared. I was afraid of retaliation from him,” she explained.
In another domestic violence case, Theodore Gliga pleaded guilty to attacking an ex-girlfriend by throwing a plate at her. That day, Gliga wanted to come back and live at her ex’s residence by force.
The parties will present a joint suggestion next April. Me Charles Montpetit defends the offender.