A driver who killed a young father during a race in the streets of Montreal will have to serve four years in prison, ruled a judge, denouncing those who “play Russian roulette” with the lives of road users. road.
“When you race at very high speeds for your own pleasure, it’s like playing Russian roulette with the lives of innocent people. Here, a man died, another was injured, lives were forever turned upside down, “said Judge Pierre E. Labelle, this Wednesday at the Montreal courthouse.
Sitting in the courtroom, Ilias El Azali, 30, remained silent as the magistrate spoke the words, in reference to the fatal collision he committed in November 2020.
Ilias El Azali, a driver who killed a taxi passenger in a collision during a street race in 2020, during his trial at the Montreal courthouse, Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Photo QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
That evening, El Azali, a trucker, was traveling in his car when he started racing with an “acquaintance” in the Cartierville area. At one point, the latter accelerated and the accused did the same.
High speed
According to witnesses, the vehicle was traveling at around 180 km/h before the collision. Driving through a red light, El Azali collided with a taxi that was crossing the intersection.
“The images of the collision are deeply disturbing,” the judge said.
The taxi driver was injured, while his passenger, Kevin Jones-Bynoe, was ejected from the vehicle. The man, who had just celebrated his son’s first birthday, died shortly after.
El Azali and the other driver then fled, without worrying about the state of the victims. He then lied to the police by pretending that his vehicle had been stolen.
“[La victime] was a father, a son, a brother … This family will be affected for a long time, a young boy will not know his father, “said the judge, offering his relatives his condolences.
Arrested following a long investigation, El Azali finally pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death as well as hit and run. He then apologized, while blaming his “knowledge”, which he said was a “bad influence”.
“I’m terribly sorry. […] If I could go back, I would without hesitation,” he said.
COURTESY PHOTO, SPVM
Expensive choice
Those words, however, had little effect on those close to Mr Jones-Bynoe.
“It doesn’t mean anything, he should have just stayed [porter assistance], had commented Shona Collins, the sister of the victim. My brother is gone and he’s not coming back.”
However, if El Azali hoped that his remorse, his clean criminal record and his low risk of recidivism would allow him to get out of it with two years of imprisonment, the judge decided otherwise.
“He chose to engage in a race, he chose to run a red light, he caused the death of a person, recalled the judge. Such conduct will be severely punished, even for people with no history.”
The magistrate thus approached the five years claimed by the Crown, by sentencing El Azali to four years in prison. And once out in the open, he will be banned from driving for two years.
“A street race, where [une personne] seeks strong sensations, is easily avoidable”, moreover recalled the judge, sending the message that all those who will be tempted to imitate the driver are likely to pay the price with their freedom.