Almost six years after gay man Christopher Skinner was beaten and run over in downtown Toronto, an Etobicoke man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
CTV News reports that on Oct 5, 2015, Agustin Caruso was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison.
According to the agreed statement of facts as reported by CTV, Skinner was walking home in the area of Adelaide Street East and Victoria Street at 3 am after leaving his sister’s birthday party. Looking for a ride home, he banged on Caruso’s SUV. Caruso, 19 years old at the time, exited the car and beat Skinner. Caruso then drove over Skinner, who later died in hospital.
Shortly after Skinner’s death in 2009, hundreds attended an outdoor vigil on Church Street in his honour. Police released a video on Oct 24, 2009, of the moments just before his attack, imploring the public to step forward with any information.
Police maintained throughout the investigation that the murder was not being treated as a hate crime.
Caruso was charged with second-degree murder on Nov 6, 2013, four years after Skinner’s death on Oct 18, 2009. Three other men were also arrested and faced charges in relation to his death, ranging from aggravated assault to obstruction.
The CBC reports that after factoring in time already served, Caruso has just over six years left left in his sentence. He is also forbidden from driving for 10 years and has a lifetime ban on owning firearms.
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