This Mustang, driven by Prabhjit Multani - already convicted for his role in killing David Virgoe, shows its glass shattered. Multani attempted to put the top up at high speed which resulted in blowing out the window. Multani, along with Nauman Nusrat - also convicted in Virgoe's death, were racing with Ravi Badhwar to Wasaga Beach. - Cindy (Canoe.ca photo)
(Tracy McLaughlin photo)
Source: Toronto Sun
ONTARIO - A young college student hung his head in the prisoner’s box yesterday after he was handed a stiff penitentiary sentence for his crime of street racing causing death – which means he will be deported back to India.
Ravi Badhwar, 23, a Humber College Business grad, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for criminal negligence causing death by street racing with an additional 12 months for failing to remain at the scene of a fatal crash that took the life of truck driver David Virgoe, 48, of Innisfil, on Hwy. 400 June 18, 2007.
He got five months automatically deducted for time he already served in jail on a two-for-one credit.
Just a day earlier Badhwar (pictured, right) begged the judge for leniency, telling him of his dream to continue on to university in Canada and make a “better life” for himself and his family here but that his dreams would be dashed if he got a sentence of over two years because he would be deported.But Justice Bruce Glass insisted he was bound by law to give him the same 30 month sentence as his two buddies, Nauman Nusrat and Prab Multani, of Etobicoke, also college students, who earlier plead guilty.
Badhwar insisted he was not part of the race and took his case to trial.
In October a jury found him guilty of a wild 44 kilometer drag race along Hwy. 400 with two of his buddies who criss-crossed in front of other vehicles as they laughed and gestured at each other in a deadly game of drag. One of their vehicles cut off a transport trucker, David Virgoe, 48, who was forced to swerve into a ditch and crash.
Outside of court, Virgoe's widow, Debbie Virgoe, said she was upset by Badhwar's constant denial of his part in her husband's death.
"It's unbelievable that even after a jury's verdict he can insist he had no part in it," she said.
Source: Toronto Sun
Convicted in speeding death of hero trucker David Virgoe
ONTARIO - A Mississauga man convicted of street racing and causing the death of a truck driver begged a judge for mercy yesterday, so that he won't be deported to India.
"Please, I am asking for a lesser sentence so that I can go to school here," said Ravi Badhwar, 23, as he stood in the prisoner's box in handcuffs.
Last October following a lengthy trial, Badwhar was taken into custody after a jury found him guilty of criminal negligence causing death by street racing and failing to remain at the scene of the fatal crash on Hwy. 400 that took the life of trucker David Virgoe, 48, on June 18, 2007.
ZIGZAGGED
The jury heard how Badhwar and two of his friends zigzagged through heavy traffic at speeds reaching 200 km/h, as they laughed and gestured toward each other in a deadly game.
One of their vehicles struck Virgoe's truck, causing him to swerve and crash into a ditch.
The two other drivers, Nauman Nusrat, 21, and Prab Multani, 22, both of Etobicoke, pled guilty and received 30-month sentences.
Nusrat, who posted a photo of himself on the Internet with the title "cut king" received a lifetime driving prohibition, while Multani received a 10-year ban.
To the end, Badhwar insisted he was innocent, and only sped to try to keep up with his two friends, but the Crown -- and the jury -- disagreed.
"It's just good fortune that Mr. Badhwar's car didn't strike another vehicle," said Crown attorney Karen McCleave, who wants a stiff sentence in a penitentiary.
"Sheer luck ... he is as liable as the other two with respect to the death of Mr. Virgoe."
If Badhwar gets a sentence of over two years, he will be deported under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
He came to Canada on a student visa and graduated with a business/marketing diploma from Humber College and now wants to continue on to university.
"I came to Canada for a better life for myself and my family," said Badhwar in his plea to the judge.
"I am a law-abiding citizen who would never intentionally hurt anyone."
Then turning to Virgoe's family, who sat at the front of the court, he added, "I am truly sorry for the loss of your dad and your husband. I will think of this incident forever."
His words brought no comfort to the family.
"My dad, my hero, is gone," said Virgoe's daughter, Bobbi Bigle, in her victim impact statement.
Then turning to Badhwar in the prisoner's box, she told him, "You could have stopped it, but instead you decided to continue for your own cheap thrills ... I ask you now, was it worth it?
Justice Bruce Glass will sentence Badhwar this morning.
Mercy, Mr. Badhwar? What mercy was shown to the family of David Virgoe by you? You had the option to 'man up', to plead guilty for your crime, take your medicine and spare Mr. Virgoe's family the agony of going through a trial. But, no, instead you chose to roll the dice, and now that your strategy has failed, now you want to plead for mercy. I'm sitting here reading this today, just shaking my head, it seems to me that you'll never truly 'get' what you've done here, the grief, the agony, the mourning, how you've totally by your criminal actions re-written the lives of all of the living victims of this tragedy. Sigh ... - Peter
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5 comments:
Mercy, Mr. Badhwar? What mercy was shown to the family of David Virgoe by you? You had the option to 'man up', to plead guilty for your crime, take your medicine and spare Mr. Virgoe's family the agony of going through a trial. But, no, instead you chose to roll the dice, and now that your strategy has failed, now you want to plead for mercy. I'm sitting here reading this today, just shaking my head, it seems to me that you'll never truly 'get' what you've done here, the grief, the agony, the mourning, how you've totally by your criminal actions re-written the lives of all of the living victims of this tragedy. Sigh ...
Word for word, I couldn't agree more.
I concur.
For all this talk of remorse, he had an opportunity on August 22, 2007 to enter a plea of guilt and spare the entire Virgoe family this drama.
These jokers don't realize the toll court has on the victims.
It's not about them but wow, Ravi, did you ever do a good job making this about you and your needs.
Asshole.
Where was David Virgoe's opportunity for mercy on June 18, 2007? These guys handed him a life sentence. Speeding up to catch up to his friends? What? It's called a map, Mr. Badhwar. If you don't know how to get to Wasaga Beach, there are maps that show you how.
You deserve jail time.
In fact, the irony of this if you had entered a guilty plea, judges are usually softer on their decisions and you may have been given a conditional sentence, free to go to school and the like.
You had a chance buddy and you blew it.
Wow, consequences, what a concept!!!
"I came to Canada for a better life for myself and my family," said Badhwar in his plea to the judge.
Bang up job so far d-bag. Here's hoping for over two years, asshole.
Exactly the kind of immigrant we don't need or want in Canada!
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