 |
 (Pictured, L-R) Const. Rob North his wife Sarah Simpson, Const. Troy Lorimer and Const. Andy Guerriero walk up Toronto's Old City Hall court steps before Jeron Powell's sentencing, Wednesday, September 2, 2009. (Sun Media/Jack Boland) |
TORONTO -- He shot a uniformed police officer in the head.
He shot at two other cops with the intent to kill them.
He robbed at gunpoint a convenience store and a beer store.
He invaded a home with a shotgun, shooting its occupant in the leg.
He has a rap sheet so long for violent crimes in his 32 years it covers two full pages. He has been on the receiving end of break after break by the courts, which put him on probation six times.
Yet even after all the terror he has caused, before he threw the book at him, Mr. Justice Peter Hryn in Old City Hall Courts gave Jeron Powell one last opportunity yesterday to do the right thing.
|
After collegial defence counsel Ray Boggs told the court of his client's generosity in pleading guilty to four of the 23 charges, saving everyone the burden of a "drawn-out" trial, that his client has his drug addiction under control and would be an excellent candidate to be rehabilitated in prison, the fair-minded judge turned to the hardened criminal and asked him one simple question.
"Would you like to address the court, Mr. Powell?"
You could hear a pin drop. Everybody was curious. Courtroom K on the third floor was packed with police officers -- including Const. Rob North, whom Powell shot in the forehead Jan. 24, Consts. Andy Guerriero and Troy Lorimer whom he also shot at, and 11 Division's senior command Staff Supt. Peter Lennox and Insp. Dave Saunders.
All eyes were on Powell, including Hryn, Boggs, Crown attorney Colleen Hepburn and court clerk Marveleen Morris.
Sporting a shaved head and the early stages of a beard, Powell paused for a moment before speaking.
"No, your honour," he said.
Some people you just can't be nice to.
"He's a bad guy," said Det. Nunzio Tremontozzi. "All he had to do was to look over at those officers and say, 'I am very sorry.' "
It was not lost on anybody that there could have been three police funerals.
"He chose a career of robbing and shooting at people," Hepburn told the court. "He is a violent bully ... the facts of this case are nothing short of horrendous."
A victim impact statement from North told of how after he was hit in the forehead by buckshot, his frightened children routinely ask: "Is the bad man in jail" and "When is he getting out?"
The good news is it won't happen for a while after Powell pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder yesterday, two counts of armed robbery with a firearm and was sentenced to 25 years in a federal penitentiary.
25 YEARS IN JAIL
For North's shooting, he got 11 years, for Lorimer, he got seven and the robberies seven -- that adds up to 25 years in prison.
The court laughably applied Powell's third lifetime firearms ban. He will not be eligible for parole for seven years.
"There is no way that will happen," insisted Tremontozzi. "I will be before that parole board reminding them of how violent he is."
When court clerk Morris dismissed the court, you could see the relief in North's face -- and that of his wife, Sarah Simpson.
"I am pleased with the court's sentencing," he said. "He has put us all through a lot. I would like to thank Chief Blair, Staff Supt. Glenn Decaire, Det. Tremontozzi and all of the people on the Toronto Police Service who offered me and my family so much support."
From there North went back out on patrol keeping the city safe.
Still in the courtroom, I was looking at my notes when Powell from the prisoner's box turned to me and spoke.
"I f---ed up," he said, looking me in the eye.
"I f---d up my life and I f---d up my kid's life and I f---d up that police's officer's life and I feel bad about what I did to upset his kids."
"Why didn't you tell that to the officers?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders as he was led away to start serving his 25 years.
Outside, I told the officers of the exchange,.
Det. Tremontozzi quite rightfully said, "He had his chance to say that in open court."
No surprise that once again, Powell f---ed up -- as did our justice system in giving this guy so many slaps on the wrist.
At least now, at at least anytime soon, there will be no more second chances for Jeron Powell.
JOE.WARMINGTON@SUNMEDIA.CA