A dispute that began at the Fun Factory children’s play centre and ended hours later in a scene of "complete mayhem and confusion" after a multi-vehicle collision has resulted — three years later — in one man receiving a conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service.
Adults on one side of the dispute flaunted a bat and a crowbar outside the play centre. A man on the other side later brandished a three-foot-long axe, in the incident characterized by the judge as "reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys."
Christopher Greba, 26, pleaded guilty Tuesday to dangerous driving in connection with a collision with the complainant, Ken McCrea. The crash caused an unrelated, parked minivan to be flipped over on a lawn on Confederation Drive on July 8, 2007.
Five or six vehicles were damaged in the collision, which drew hundreds of people from nearby apartments, Crown prosecutor Buffy Rodgers said, reading from an agreed statement of facts.
The plea bargain included the Crown staying one charge against Greba’s brother, Jonathan Greba, 23, who had been facing one count of possession of a weapon (the axe) for a purpose dangerous to the public.
The incident began at the Fun Factory on Quebec Avenue, where two family groups were attending with children.
An argument ensued among adults after a grandmother from the Greba group chastised a child from McCrea’s family for throwing plastic balls.
McCrea, who was 17 at the time, placed his hand on the woman’s shoulder and told her to grow up, Rodgers said.
Christopher Greba grabbed McCrea by the neck and pushed him back.
Members of the Greba family perceived threats from the McCreas, Rodgers said.
At about 5 p.m., McCrea called the police, but members of his group showed up outside the Fun Factory with a bat and a crowbar, Rodgers said.
Police arrived, calmed the situation and told everybody to go home. McCrea left.
The Grebas stayed for about an hour and a half, waiting until they were sure the others had left, said Christopher Greba’s lawyer, Ron Piche.
The Grebas left in a convoy of three vehicles, westbound on 33rd Street, Rodgers said.
At around Avenue T, the convoy passed McCrea, who was headed eastbound on 33rd. McCrea turned around and followed the Grebas.
All of the vehicles turned south on Confederation Drive and were near Massey Place when Christopher Greba’s truck collided with a side door of McCrea’s Mustang.
The drivers lost control of their vehicles and three parked vehicles were damaged, including the flipped minivan, resulting in about $70,000 in damage.
Jonathan Greba got out of his truck, which was not involved in the crash, and brandished an axe at McCrea and his passenger, who ran to a city transit bus and took refuge there, Rodgers said.
McCrea was not charged.
Tuesday’s plea bargain came on the opening day of a trial that had been scheduled to last two days.
It was the fourth time the matter has been set for trial in the three years since the incident.
Piche said he was new to the case and had spent several weeks negotiating a deal with the Crown.
Rodgers said some witnesses have become reluctant to show up for court after the previous delays. McCrea now lives out of province, she said.
"This is a very serious matter and it’s not a perfect case" for the Crown, Rodgers said.
The Crown and defence submitted a joint sentencing submission that included a six-month conditional discharge for Christopher Greba with the condition he have no contact with McCrea, and a $750 victim fine surcharge.
The joint submission was too lenient for Judge Doug Agnew, who imposed a nine-month conditional sentence and added 100 hours of community service.
Agnew said a conditional sentence was not the best penalty in the situation but he felt bound by Appeal Court rulings that require judges to give considerable weight to joint submissions from senior lawyers.
"The adults acted like children in a feud reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys," Agnew said.
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