George Riches was 75 years old. He was sick and vulnerable. He was sleeping on his sofa when a crack dealer killed him with an extremely violent blow from a baseball bat. All this to take revenge on the victim’s son who had stolen his television. For this “gratuitous” murder, Akong Yves Fonbah will spend a minimum of 16 years behind bars.
“Why attack a defenseless man? “, asked Judge Éliane B. Perreault. In front of Georges Riches’ relatives, the magistrate sentenced Akong Yves Fonbah to life in prison without the possibility of parole before 16 years. A jury found him guilty of second-degree murder last March.
Akong Yves Fonbah is the “dealer” of Kenny Riches, the victim’s son, in the fall of 2021. One day, Fonbah refuses to sell crack to Kenny. The latter then steals the seller’s TV to buy drugs. A theft with dramatic consequences.
PHOTO FILED AS PROOF
Georges Riches, the victim
The conflict escalates between the two men during the day. Threats come from both sides. At nightfall, Akong Yves Fonbah showed up at the Riches’ home, in the LaSalle district. Three sidekicks, including an ex-boxer, accompany him. However, only Fonbah enters the apartment. Kenny Riches then uses crack in his room and does not see it.
For no apparent reason, Akong Yves Fonbah delivers an “excessively” violent blow with a baseball bat to the head of George Riches, who was probably asleep on the sofa in the small apartment. A fatal blow. The assailant then smashes the television. Kenny comes out of the room and chases the killer away with a knife.
PHOTO FILED AS PROOF
Akong Yves Fonbah used this baseball bat to kill the victim who was sleeping on the sofa.
Crown prosecutorse Simon Lapierre and Me Philippe Vallières-Roland demanded an inadmissibility period of 18 years, while the defense requested only 12 years.
To conclude at a period of 16 years, Judge Perreault took into consideration some mitigating factors, including the accused’s lack of violent history and his language problems. The judge, however, noted around ten aggravating factors, including the brutality of the attack and the vulnerability of the victim.
The death of Georges Riches had serious consequences for his family. Since then, his son Kenny has lived on the street. Her granddaughter’s life was turned upside down. In a poignant letter, the young woman evokes the “enormous suffering” that has driven her ever since.
“Losing someone important to your family, in such a brutal and excruciating way, makes grieving much more difficult and prolonged. I feel like my grieving hasn’t even started. I can’t wait for justice to be done for my grandfather,” she concluded.