Two Accused In Creba Case Have Charges Reduced To Manslaughter
Posted March 14, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
They’re accused in what may be the most infamous murder in Toronto history. And now they know what charges they’ll be facing when their trial finally begins. Of the seven people held in the shooting death of 15-year-old Jane Creba, three faced second-degree murder counts and four others were looking at manslaughter.
But in a long awaited preliminary hearing on Friday afternoon, that changed – and now just one of the suspects will be facing the more serious count. He’s t wenty-one-year-old Jeremiah Valentine.
The difference between manslaughter and second-degree murder is vital.
The murder rap carries an automatic penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole for between 10 and 25 years.
Those guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter can face a range of punishments, none as serious as a murder conviction.
A publication ban prevents the media from elaborating on why the charges were downgraded.
The changes come as a relief to some closely watching the proceedings. Original concerns the judge might dismiss some of the charges and allow several suspects to walk were eased when the jurist bound them all over for trial.
Three youths charged in the shooting have already had their preliminary hearings. One had a murder charge reduced to manslaughter; another was ordered to trial on the same charge. A third was freed due to a lack of evidence.
David Midanik, l awyer for one of the accused, gave CityNews his reaction to the judge’s ruling Friday.
“I think the general belief was that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to commit certainly the ones who were not alleged to be shooters. But the judge thought otherwise.”
Creba was shot and killed as she shopped with her family on the busy Yonge-Dundas strip on Boxing Day 2005. It was the final and most notorious murder of Toronto’s so-called Year of the Gun.
