Montreal man has murder charge reduced to manslaughter after fatal road altercation
Man had been facing a 2nd-degree murder charge, which comes with a minimum life sentence
A second-degree murder charge against a 35-year-old Montreal man has been reduced to manslaughter after a roadway altercation turned deadly earlier this week.
The accused is Justin Philip Cockburn, a resident of Montréal-Nord. He has been granted bail, according to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP).
He is accused in the death of Antonio Zaccagna, 67, who was driving the car that struck a pedestrian, which led to the confrontation.
The incident happened near the corner of Gouin East Boulevard and Garon Street in Montréal-Nord on Tuesday.
Witnesses told police a man saw the pedestrian get hit and got into an altercation with the driver. On Wednesday, Montreal police described the conflict as a "deadly assault."
When officers arrived, they found the driver lying on the ground with serious injuries, police said. The victim was rushed to hospital, where he later died.
Police arrested the suspect at the scene. The pedestrian, a 33-year-old man, suffered minor injuries.
Generally, a deliberate killing that occurs without planning and does not fall under any of the categories of first-degree murder is considered second-degree murder.
The minimum sentence is life in prison with no parole for 10 years, but sentences can be as long as life in prison without parole for 25 years.
Manslaughter, on the other hand, is a homicide committed without intent, although there may have been an intention to cause harm.
Manslaughter carries no minimum sentence except when it is committed with a firearm.
Written by Isaac Olson