Driver in B.C. hit and run sentenced in unrelated sexual assault of a minor
WARNING: Details in this case may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.
A man already behind bars for a high-profile hit and run in which an Irish student was killed has been sentenced to three more years in jail in an unrelated case.
Alexandre Romero-Arata is set to be sentenced for the sexual assault of a minor in a separate case.
This sentence comes on the third anniversary of a collision in Kitsilano that left 24-year-old Eoghan Byrne dead.
Romero-Arata pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in that 2022 case and was sentenced to five years in prison and an eight-year driving ban.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
On Thursday, he was sentenced in an unrelated sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl. He was convicted by a jury in December 2023 for the incident that took place in a Vancouver hotel in 2021.
Story continues below advertisement
The jury heard that the assault involved choking the victim, pulling her hair and slapping her on the face and breasts.
In a statement, the victim's mother said that what was done to her daughter was inexcusable and shattered their lives.
2:31
Shocking video released at fatal hit and run sentencing hearing
In the crash that killed Bryne, the court heard that Romero-Arata had been drinking, was driving at speeds of up to 152 km/h and ran multiple red lights. Video recorded by a passenger in his vehicle showed him, at one point, saying, 'I ain't stopping for no red light.'
After the deadly collision, Romero-Arata fled the scene and then falsely reported his vehicle as stolen.
In the sexual assault case, the Crown and defence agreed that any sentence should be served after he is finished serving his sentence for the fatal hit and run.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Surrey trucking company targeted twice in suspected extortion case
A Surrey business owner says his business was shot at early Thursday morning, about 24 hours after a previous incident. Raghbir Singh Nijjar, owner of Nijjar Trucking, which is in an industrial area in northwest Surrey, said someone shot at the building and the company cars parked in the lot. When Surrey Police Service officers arrived on the scene, they found bullet casings. No one was inured, even though staff were inside when the shooting happened, but the shooting happened just under 24 hours after vehicles were damaged at the same location. On Wednesday, June 18, at approximately 3:50 a.m., suspects used gasoline to damage vehicles but were scared off by on-site security. SPS officers arrived on scene and gathered evidence from this incident as well. Nijjar said that about a year ago, someone called his business and demanded money for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Story continues below advertisement India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) describes the group as a criminal gang headed by Lawrence Bishnoi, whose lawyer says contests more than 40 cases accusing him of crimes such as murder and extortion. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Nijjar said they have reported everything to RCMP and Surrey police while the people have kept calling and asking for money. He said he is scared of what is going on. 'We (are) working every day,' he added. 'We (are doing) hard work. We (have been here) since '91. That's why we came over here (for) safety and (a) better future.' 2:15 Maple Ridge shooting believed tied to extortion attempts Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton with the Surrey Police Service would not confirm on Thursday that these incidents are linked to extortion. Story continues below advertisement 'Well, we'll be looking at all of the motives and all potential links, whether it's to past investigations and this current investigation, as with any investigation, we have to let the evidence dictate the course of that investigation,' he said. 'It may turn out that it is related to previous investigations or previous incidents, but we have to let the investigation take its course.' This incident comes after a home in Maple Ridge was shot at twice in what is believed to be linked to an extortion attempt and last week, the brazen murder of an Abbotsford man with no known criminal ties reignited extortion fears in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. In this case, SPS's Frontline Investigative Support Team (FLIST) has assumed conduct of both investigations. Anyone with information about this incident should contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 25-50413 (SP) or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Man imprisoned for deadly Vancouver hit-and-run sentenced for sex assault
The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A man already serving time for a deadly Vancouver hit-and-run has been sentenced to an additional three years in prison for an unrelated sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl. Alexandre Romero-Arata was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Thursday, in line with a joint submission from lawyers for Crown and the defence. Romero-Arata was convicted in 2023 for the 2021 sexual assault on the girl in a Vancouver hotel room. He was 25 at the time but had told her he was closer to her age. During the encounter, he offered the victim alcohol despite knowing about her history of substance abuse. The court heard Romero-Arata slapped the victim's face and breasts and had sex with her without a condom – with the judge ultimately finding the teen did not consent to. While Romero-Arata declined the opportunity to address court, his lawyers say he accepts the jury's finding of guilt, and is remorseful and apologetic. 'I think it's important to acknowledge that our client's remorse is something that the judge found to be mitigating in passing sentence,' Romero-Arata's lawyer Sarah Leamon told CTV News outside court on Thursday. 'I think he's had time to reflect, and in reviewing the victim impact statements, he has expressed his remorse.' Romero-Arata currently has two years remaining on a five year sentence for criminal negligence causing death for a hit and run. Exactly three years ago, 24-year-old Irish tech worker Eoghan Byrne was killed on West 4th Avenue and Arbutus Street. Cellphone video that emerged after the fact showed Romero-Arata bragging on camera about speeding as he went on an alcohol-fueled joyride through Kitsilano. In that case, the court heard he ran multiple red lights and hit speeds of up to 152 km/h. But his lawyer insists he can turn his life around. 'The court certainly considered his rehabilitative prospects and did consider that to be mitigating, in terms of something that was brought into their decision to pass sentence,' Leamon said. Romero-Arata will also be required to submit a DNA sample and register as a sex offender.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Saskatchewan family believes missing mom is in danger
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The family of a missing woman from Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation is worried for her safety after her weekly check-in never came. Forty-year-old Michelle Ahenakew was last seen mid-day on June 5th on Big River First Nation. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Her disappearance is now considered suspicious and the RCMP major crimes unit has taken over the investigation. She is known to travel frequently to Saskatoon, Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and Shell Lake. Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP at 310-RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) The video above has the full story.
