The Laval resident, who was accused of committing murder in a crowded pizzeria in Dix30, finally managed to cast doubt on the jury, who eventually acquitted him of first-degree murder.
• Also read: Murder in the middle of a pizzeria at Dix30: Killed in just 8 seconds, the victim didn’t stand a chance
• Also read: Murder in a DIX30 pizzeria: A policeman’s intuition made it possible to find the revolver
Joseph Sarroino, a 29-year-old resident of Laval, was at risk of life imprisonment in connection with the May 10, 2019 attack at Pizzeria Sofia in the Dix30 district.
That day, 24-year-old Éric Francis De Souza was attending a birthday dinner with friends when a hooded man burst into the restaurant.
Image courtesy
Joshua Sarroino
With a sure step and a green plastic bag with a revolver in his hands, the assassin walked up to the victim and executed him with a bullet in the back of the head, causing panic among the clients.
Photos were filed in court
Photo filed as evidence in the trial of Joshua Sarroino accused of the murder of Éric Francis De Souza, allegedly committed on May 10, 2019 at Pizzeria Sofia in the Dix30 neighborhood of Brossard. The photo shows the revolver used in the crime, which was found on a terrace. With kind approval
In total, the shooter only stayed in the pizzeria for eight seconds.
Insufficient Evidence
According to the prosecution’s theory, the assassin then disposed of his gun and got into a white car, which was found burned out shortly afterwards.
Photos were filed in court
But if the assassin’s face was never seen by the Dix30’s surveillance cameras, investigators had found traces of fingerprints as well as DNA on exhibits.
According to experts, this linked them to Sarroino, which led to his arrest.
However, these “indications” were not sufficient to lead to a finding of guilt.
It is that the defense’s Me Danielle Roy managed to cast doubt on the head of the jury with the smacks of rigorous cross-examination.
This ultimately resulted in an acquittal for Sarroino, as the citizens responsible for his trial were unconvinced of his guilt.
Photo from the KaneF obituary site
Eric Francis De Souza – Victim
The crown, represented by Mes Tian Meng, Patrick Ostiguy and Richard Rougeau, have 30 days to appeal the decision if they wish.
The trial was presided over by Judge Pierre Labrie.
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