The Laval resident accused of having committed a murder in a crowded pizzeria in Dix30 finally succeeded in casting doubt in the minds of the jury, who ultimately acquitted him of first degree murder.
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Joseph Sarroino, a 29-year-old Laval resident, risked life imprisonment in connection with the assassination that occurred on May 10, 2019 at the Pizzeria Sofia in the Dix30 district.
That day, Éric Francis De Souza, 24, was attending a birthday dinner with friends when a hooded man burst into the restaurant.
Courtesy picture
Joshua Sarroino
Walking with a sure step and holding in his hands a green plastic bag containing a revolver, the assassin approached the victim and executed him with a bullet in the back of the head, causing panic among the clients.
Photos filed in court
Photo filed in evidence at the trial of Joshua Sarroino, accused of the murder of Éric Francis De Souza, which was allegedly committed on May 10, 2019 at Pizzeria Sofia in the Dix30 district of Brossard. In the photo you can see the revolver used in the crime, which was found on a terrace. COURTESY COURTESY
In total, the shooter had remained only eight seconds in the pizzeria.
- Listen to the various facts chronicle of Maxime Deland, journalist at the QMI Agency at the microphone of Benoit Dutrizac via :
Insufficient evidence
According to the prosecution’s theory, the assassin then got rid of his weapon, only to get into a white car, which was found burnt out soon after.
Photos filed in court
But if the face of the assassin was never seen by the surveillance cameras of the Dix30, the investigators had found traces of fingerprints as well as DNA on exhibits.
And according to experts, this linked them to Sarroino, leading to his arrest.
This “circumstantial” evidence, however, was not sufficient to lead to a finding of guilt.
It is that through tight cross-examinations, Me Danielle Roy from the defense succeeded in creating doubt in the heads of the jury.
This ultimately led to a not guilty verdict for Sarroino, as the citizens responsible for trying him were not convinced of his guilt.
Photo taken from the KaneF obituary site
Eric Francis De Souza – victim
The Crown, which was represented by Ms.are Tian Meng, Patrick Ostiguy and Richard Rougeau have 30 days to appeal the decision if they wish.
The trial was presided over by Judge Pierre Labrie.