Judge grants bail to accused
Alleged vandal ordered to abide by curfew, not possess any weapons
An Italian photographer accused of smashing out the glass at 70 Edmonton bus shelters was granted bail Friday with conditions that he not possess slingshots, marbles or small balls made of glass or hard material.
Leonardo Antonio Autera, 55, who is charged with 49 counts of mischief causing damage in connection with the vandalism spree in February, was ordered released on $500 cash.
Provincial court Judge Joyce Lester also ordered Autera to stay in Alberta at an approved residence and to surrender his passport by noon Monday. He must also abide by a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
As well, Lester ordered that Autera not be in possession of any weapons, including “slingshots or any other item capable of firing projectiles.” He also cannot possess “any marbles, glass or other- wise, or small rocks, or small balls made out of glass or any other hard material.”
Autera, who appeared in court sporting orange Edmonton Remand Centre coveralls, was assisted by an Italian interpreter. There was also a woman from the Italian Consulate in court.
Autera was prohibited from having any contact with his coaccused, Cynthia Elizabeth Zambrano, 38, although the judge said he could go to her home with police to retrieve his personal property.
There was a ban on publication of the evidence and arguments heard during the bail hearing as well as the judge’s reasons for her decision.
Autera and Zambrano are slated to be back in court on April 1.
Zambrano was earlier granted bail and also had conditions that she not possess slingshots or marbles.
Police have said the window smashing at the 70 bus shelters was the largest case of such vandalism in the city’s history, with an estimated $30,000 worth of damage.
The pair were arrested after a police officer witnessed one shelter being destroyed.
Police later said the culprits were using a slingshot and marbles fired from a vehicle. The bulk of the damaged shelters were in north Edmonton.
In November, Zambrano and Autera were featured in a Postmedia story about a photography project focused on people waiting for buses.
At the time, Autera said he thought Edmontonians appear “quite sad” and added that locals “don’t smile enough.”
Autera said he began the photography project at Edmonton bus stops because those waiting to take the bus have faces that portray simple, honest emotions, faces typically absent of the strain of religious persecution and war.
He and Zambrano said they wanted to stage an exhibit of their photos and publish a book.