Strict conditions imposed for student’s violent response to racist rant

ASherbrooke student is facing the consequences of having meted out his own justice after enduring racist comments while ordering a pizza after a night spent in downtown Sherbrooke last year.

The man, who is of Pakistani origin, was returning from a festive evening with friends when individual made racist remarks on April 4, 2016. The insults continued outside the Mi-van pizzeria on Wellington South and the student punched his aggressor in the face, knocking him to the ground. His friends continued to attack the man, a deliverer, with punches and kicks, causing serious injuries to the victim. In spite of this, the accused will not have a criminal record, but will have to comply with severe conditions for the next 18 months.

In his statement before the court, the victim described at length the consequences of this aggression. He suffered a depression, lost his spouse and his job and still suffers from dizziness and headaches. He still feels pain in the face and must wear appropriate glasses. He has also developed fear of being attacked. "The victim suffered several permanent consequences from the acts," said Court of Québec Justice Conrad Chapdelaine, in imposing his sentence.

The man’s lawyer was able to convince the court that the accused would have disproportionate consequences if a criminal record were imposed and stated the accused regrets his actions and acknowledged that they were inappropriate. The risk of re-offending was assessed as unlikely by a probation officer as part of a pre-sentence report.

Chapdelaine accepted the defense arguments on conditional discharge but imposed strict conditions. The accused must pay a $3,000 reimbursement to the victim and imposed 100 hours of community service within a period of 18 months. The accused will not be able to consume alcohol for the next six months and will not be able to contact the victim.

"This conditional discharge will allow you to consider your future career,” Chapdelaine said. “Any breach of these conditions will, however, jeopardize this decision,” he added.