A Toronto man found guilty of second-degree murder in the September 2012 death of a gas station attendant has been sentenced to life with no parole eligibility for 16 years.
Max Tutiven, 44, who plead not guilty in the death of Jayesh Prajapati, told the jury he killed the victim but never intended to do so.
Tutiven’s lawyer, Edward Sapiano, told reporters after the sentencing that his client will be appealing the conviction and that Tutiven does not think of himself as a “demon.”
Prajapati, who had been working at the Toronto Shell gas station the night of Sept. 15, 2012, was killed when he tried to stop a customer from driving away from the station, located at the corner of Roselawn and Marlee avenues, without paying his $112.85 bill.
READ MORE: Suspect in fatal 2012 gas and dash collision testifies he unintentionally killed attendant
Tutiven testified that after pumping his gas, a black car came out of nowhere and parked in front of him and blocked his vehicle, which forced him to reverse in order to exit the gas station.
He said he was then about to turn onto Roselawn Avenue when he heard what he thought was a pylon under his SUV.
READ MORE: Police offer $25,000 reward in fatal 2012 ‘gas-and-dash’ theft
Prajapati was dragged 78 metres by Tutiven’s Isuzu Rodeo. The 44-year-old father and husband was pronounced dead at the scene.
The jury deliberated for five-and-a-half hours before delivering their verdict on Oct. 10.
— With files from Jessica Patton and Catherine McDonald
— With files from Jessica Patton and Catherine McDonald
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