Justice for Joneil rally set for Saturday
People from throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality are planning a rally outside the Sydney Mines police station on Sunday with hopes of getting “justice” for 17-yearold Joneil Hanna.
The North Sydney youth died from injuries sustained from being struck by a vehicle while walking home from a grad party on June 10.
As of yet, no charges have been laid against the driver of the vehicle, who remained on scene until police arrived. The investigation is ongoing and charges could be laid in the future. However, many people are upset that responding officers didn’t give the driver a breathalyzer test at the scene.
Cape Breton Regional Police have said in a statement there is no evidence to indicate the driver of the vehicle was impaired.
“I’m planning to attend because it isn’t right that a boy lost his life and nothing is being done about it,” said 22-year-old Kelsie MacPhee, a mother of one from Sydney.
“For them to say they didn’t have enough evidence to give him the breathalyzer is insane to me … I know people who have swerved around potholes and were pulled over and given the breathalyzer for that.”
Jenn Hanna, Joneil’s mother, didn’t plan to attend the rally,
which is being promoted through a Facebook group that has gained 1,100 followers in two days, but she is grateful people have organized it.
“I feel it’s great. I have lots of support.”