Calgary man pleads guilty to hit and run

His victim can’t be found, but that didn’t stop a Calgary man pleading guilty Friday in a plea deal, allowing him to avoid any immigration implications.

Natnael Behylu Yetayew, 40, pleaded guilty to hit and run in connection with an incident last Sept. 8, in which a woman was struck in a Forest Lawn intersection.

In presenting a joint submission for a 179-day conditional sentence to be served in the community, Crown prosecutor Renato Di Lorenzo said one of the problems he had with his case is police can’t find the victim. “The victim has not been seen, or heard from since the accident,” Di Lorenzo told provincial court Judge Karim Jivraj.

Defence lawyer Andre Ouellette, in agreeing with the proposed 179day term, said his client indicated a wish to plead guilty from the outset. The term is one day less than six months, which would automatically trigger immigration implications for Yetayew, Ouellette said outside court.