Tuscany LRT graffiti offender apologizes to Muslims, Syrians
Judge will decide on Kyle McKenzie's sentence next month
The Calgary man who spray-painted hateful, racist graffiti on a Calgary LRT station in December because he was "mad at ISIS" told the court he was sorry during his sentencing hearing Wednesday.
"Since being incarcerated, I have changed my views," said Kyle McKenzie, who pleaded guilty in March to charges of mischief over $5,000 and inciting hatred. "[I] no longer feel a hate toward Muslim or Syrian people.
"I would also like to apologize to the Syrian and Muslim community for writing hateful, ignorant messages."
- MORE CRIME NEWS | 4 current and former Calgary police officers charged in corruption probe
- MORE CRIME NEWS | 'He's just sentenced Alex to death,' Radita family's former social worker says of B.C. judge
The Crown is asking McKenzie serve an 18-month sentence, minus 1.5 credit for the time he's already served. A two- to three-year probationary period and 300 hours of community service was also proposed.
"The accused expressed his hatred to a vulnerable group," said prosecutor Rajbir Dhillon. "We all cherish freedom of expression ... but only to a point.
"There's an expression 'if someone tells you who they are, you should believe them.' Mr. MacKenzie has told us he's a racist by spray painting his message for the public to see."
Defence is asking for time served: nine months with enhanced credit.
Mad at ISIS, says offender
"I did all of the tagging as I was mad at ISIS because they shot up the people of Paris and I am French Canadian," McKenzie told police after he was arrested, according to a court document.
"I don't hate all Muslims, but I do hate what ISIS stands for."
Miguel Lavergne is also charged in connection with the incident but only faces mischief charges.
McKenzie told police he did all of the tagging and that Lavergne was with him, but did not participate.
Two men were seen on video surveillance entering the Tuscany station around 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 3 and using gold spray paint to write messages throughout the station, on a C-Train car and on five private vehicles parked outside.
Lavergne and McKenzie were arrested days later.
$20,000 in damages
Police classified the vandalism as a hate-motivated crime, as the spray-painted comments were disparaging to Syrian refugees and Muslims.
The often misspelled messages included swastikas and white-power symbols and some urged readers to "kill" Muslims and Syrians, making the incident a cut-and-dried hate crime in the eyes of investigators.
Total damage was estimated to be more than $20,000, according to police.
McKenzie also pleaded guilty on Wednesday to mischief and breaching probation stemming from an incident at a Canadian Tire in December 2013 when he caused a scene by drunkenly throwing displays around.
MacKay and Dhillon agreed he should serve three months in jail for those offences.
Judge Allan Fradsham will hand down McKenzie's sentence on July 15.