Bolsa shooting suspect cuts deal with Crown
Posted Jul 25, 2013 6:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A man who is charged in the Bolsa Restaurant triple murders has admitted his guilt and will testify against two other suspects in the case in exchange for a lesser sentence.
Michael Roberto spoke in court Thursday afternoon, admitting his role in the 2009 New Year’s Day shooting which killed three people including an innocent bystander.
Crown Prosecutor Brian Holtby says they had to do this deal.
“I don’t think characterizing this deal as one with the devil would be unfair,” says Holtby. “It is something we don’t like to do, but we felt there was no other option.”
Roberto’s sentence was downgraded from life in prison in a deal worked out between the defence and the crown, to 16 years minus time already served, which comes out to seven years and nine months remaining on his sentence,
Roberto was originally found guilty of first degree murder in the original trial, however that conviction and sentence was overturned when the crown’s star witness’ testimony turned out to be shaky.
