Relatives of a Montrealer killed by the ex-spouse of his new girlfriend over a dog-sitting affair, protest against the fact that the accused gets away with a reduced charge, he who pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
• Read also: Stabbed to death while defending his lover against his violent ex
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“I do not like it. I don’t think it’s fair. It is not enough. I lost my son. He is dead,” lamented Karen Sullivan, mother of the victim, on Wednesday as she left the courtroom at the Montreal courthouse.
Relatives of Rance Sullivan, including his mother (wearing glasses) and his friend Sarah Piché-Senécal (left), before the hearing on Wednesday morning at the Montreal courthouse.
Photo Jonathan Tremblay
Minutes earlier, Theodore Gliga entered a guilty plea to charges of involuntary manslaughter against Rance Sullivan and assault with a weapon.
The 30-year-old man, dressed in a shirt and tie, appeared to be trying to make eye contact with people in the crowded room of the victim’s relatives.
Detained for a year, Gliga thus avoided a trial for second-degree murder. This leader weighed against him since the tragedy of September 30, 2022.
Théodore Gliga, guilty. Courtesy photo
To defend her
Shortly before 5 a.m., he showed up at his ex-partner’s house with a knife, in order to take away the dog they had adopted during their two-year relationship.
Gliga then broke his conditions of release, including that of not approaching his ex-partner, Sarah Piché-Sénécal.
“He wasn’t supposed to be there. He had no respect for the conditions of the court,” the 35-year-old woman told the media as she left the room.
After a physical altercation in the apartment with a roommate of his ex-partner, Gliga left the premises with Molly, a labrador then aged 5, telling Mme Piché-Sénécal that she “would never see the dog again”.
Angry, Rance Sullivan wanted to defend his lover, according to the summary of the facts.
The victim, Rance Sullivan. Photo taken from Facebook
“The victim and [le colocataire] then chased the accused to find the dog,” explained M.e Jade Coderre, Crown prosecutor, who read it.
The duo quickly caught up with Gliga, and another fight ensued. However, this has degenerated.
Fatal blow
This time, the man described as “violent, manipulative and obsessive” fatally stabbed Mr Sullivan in the ribs.
His death was noted on rue Jeanne-Mance, in Mile-End.
Upset by this outcome, Mme Piché-Sénécal testified with emotion, Wednesday, about the feelings he has regarding this plea.
“To me, it wasn’t an unintentional act, but it was what he was capable of pleading guilty to. I’m still in shock,” she whispered.
“What is important, continued Mme Piché-Sénécal is that he admitted that he was not acting in self-defense. That there were other ways to resolve the conflict. It’s a tragedy, but at least the truth is coming out.”
Photo Maxime Deland
Direct consequences
Later in the day, Gliga also pleaded guilty to threatening to kill her, as well as to a charge of assault with a weapon against another previous girlfriend.
“It’s important to talk about it. These are the direct consequences of domestic violence. This is a very insidious type of violence. It could have been me, at any time,” argued the victim, referring to her partner, who was killed.
She already fears Gliga’s possible release from prison in a few years.
The latter must return to court next April to hear his sentence.