A Montrealer who accidentally shot an innocent senior citizen in an Italian cafe after mistaking him for a mobster is punished with life imprisonment, as is the driver of the vehicle in which he fled.
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“It was a wild act, in the middle of the street, in a public square, while he was drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper,” commented Angelo D’Onofrio’s siblings this Friday at the Montreal courthouse.
Shortly afterwards, it was the victim’s widow, Lina Simone, who expressed all her pain at having lost her loved one, her despair, but also her desire to keep the memory of her husband alive.
“It’s been seven years… People tell me to move on, but to where? she told judge Hélène di Salvo. I can’t adapt without my Lino.”
Angelo D’Onofrio and Lina Simone are completely happy before the man is accidentally shot. Free photo
Sitting in the dock, 32-year-old Jeff Joubens Theus listened to these moving testimonies without batting an eyelid and then confirmed to his lawyers that he did not want to testify in connection with his crime committed on June 2, 2016.
Wrong place at the wrong time
That day he was in the company of Embaba Ndutu Lufiau with the mission to kill one Vanelli, a member of organized crime.
Jeff Joubens Theus courtesy photo
However, as they approached the terrace of a café, they saw Mr. D’Onofrio, a septuagenarian who looked like their target. Without asking any further questions, Theus then appeared before him and began shooting at him, killing a man who had nothing to do with organized crime at all, but was instead described as a good, cheerful person with a sense of humor everyone who was close to him laughed.
“It was an innocent victim sitting peacefully in a cafe bar,” Me Katerine Brabant for the Crown told the jury as the trial opened.
Angelo D’Onofrio had no chance and was declared dead shortly afterwards.
“I am convinced that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was a completely innocent victim,” said judge Hélène di Salvo.
Second try
But if Theus and Lufiau, 35, thought they would escape, they did so without regard to the vigilance of a citizen who had noted the license plate number of the getaway vehicle. It was a stolen plaque that was found after Theus attempted to burn incriminating evidence. However, authorities found this evidence, some of which contained the shooter’s DNA.
This made it possible to indict the two Montrealers, resulting in relief for those close to Mr. D’Onofrio who sought to thank Crown investigators and prosecutors for their work.
Ebamba Lufiau Phot courtesy
Theus and Lufiau were found guilty in an initial trial and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the appeals court ordered a new trial. Shortly before the new hearings, Lufiau pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, while Theus did everything… only to be found guilty of first-degree murder last week. This results in him being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole before serving at least 25 years. Out of respect for the victim’s family, the judge announced that she would issue a written verdict in approximately ten days.
“I hope that this will be the last trial and that you will make some progress,” she told Mr. D’Onofrio’s relatives. I know it’s hard, but I’m sure great things lie ahead.”
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