A driver who killed a father in a high-speed street race in Montreal blames the “empty” streets during the pandemic and the “bad” influence of his accomplice. The Crown is asking for a “severe” five-year sentence against this “thrills” lover.
“I lost more than the father of my son, I lost my best friend and the love of my life,” breathed Victoria Billingy, the spouse of Kevin Jones-Bynoe, Thursday during the observations on the sentence of ‘Ilias El-Azali. The 30-year-old Montrealer pleaded guilty last December to dangerous driving causing death and a fatal hit-and-run.
Kevin Jones-Bynoe was returning home in a taxi in northern Montreal on November 8, 2020, shortly before 3 a.m. The 32-year-old had recently celebrated his son’s first birthday. When crossing the intersection of rue De Salaberry, the taxi was hit head-on by Ilias El Azali’s vehicle, which ran the red light at full speed.
PHOTO FROM VICTORIA BILLINGY’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Kevin Jones-Bynoe and his son
The images of the collision filed in evidence are extremely violent. Kevin Jones-Bynoe didn’t have a chance. The accused was driving at more than 100 km / h in a 50 km / h zone, according to an expert. Its speed would have even reached 180 km / h, according to a witness. He was followed by another vehicle, driven by an acquaintance named “Alexandre”.
« [Alexandre] started to accelerate. It was a bad influence. It pushed me to speed up. It didn’t last long, but it caused the accident. It was a lack of judgment. It was COVID. The roads were empty, ”defended Ilias El Azali, emphasizing in broad strokes his deep remorse.
After the collision, Ilias El Azali got out of his vehicle, then got into his accomplice’s sedan. A few seconds later, he turned back to retrieve an object from his car. In the morning, he told the police that his vehicle had been stolen.
Ilias El Azali blames the mysterious Alexandre. “He influenced me greatly to flee. I was in shock. He had stuffed my head, ”he explains. If the accused did not go to see the victims, it was because he believed that it was not “that serious”. “I didn’t have all my wits,” he continues.
Crown prosecutor M.e Anik Archambault points to numerous aggravating factors to justify the imposition of a “severe” sentence of five years, including the context of street racing and the fact that the accused has already lost his driver’s license for having driven 90 km/ h above the allowable limit. “Clearly he ignored that warning,” she pleaded.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SPVM
The vehicle driven by Ilias El Azali
The defense is asking for a two-year prison sentence because of the “numerous” mitigating factors. Me Stéphanie Basso insisted a lot on the remorse of her client and her empathy towards the family of the victim. His risk of recidivism is “low” and he remains an asset for society, argues the defense.
The prosecution is asking for a driving ban for seven years, against four years for the defense.
The judge will hand down his sentence next month.