Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

[SevSpitak]

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100905/mtl_ronia_100905/20100905?hub=MontrealHome

She was killed by a hit and run, from a guy with a suspended license, speeding. He (Robert Bélanger) is himself half Armenian, and went to the same school as the girl. The girl's older brother was a classmate of the hit and runner back in high school.

[Davo88]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

This took place not far from my house... It is very sad to hear that someone's life would end in such an awful tragic way. I hope that Robert Belanger gets the punishment he deserves.

Though I did not know that the two families knew each other.

[Eddo211]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

Rest in Peace to Ronia and best wishes to her family in these difficult times.

[arakeretzig]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

Rest in peace.

[jgk3]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

I heard about this from my priest at church this weekend... May she rest in peace.

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

Rest in peace

[Christina]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

This shows that everyone no matter who they are, should remember that driving is a
privilege and not a right. That everyone has a family and everyone belongs to someone.
Even if they are a orphan. That person is a child of the Lord.

It must be very difficult for the parents. Especially the mother. That the two families
know each other with the relations in school, this is especially more difficult and
painful for the parents. It is a small world and people need to keep this in mind.

Life is precious and so are people. May she rest in peace and may her family find
strength in the Lord.

[Davo88]

Re: Armenian girl killed in car accident in Montreal

Indeed, rest in peace.

Mourning friends, classmates attend court to honour teen killed in hit-and-run

Updated: Tue Sep. 07 2010 4:21:00 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

Dozens of friends and classmates of a teenager whose life was cut short by a car crash marched from their school to the Laval courthouse on Tuesday.

Dressed all in black, they wanted to show their support for the family of 15-year-old Ronia Mansourian, as the man accused of killing her in a hit-and-run appeared for a bail hearing.

"If it's hard for us, imagine for her family," said one girl. "We know they need the support so we organized this and decided to come here and help them out."

Friends of Ronia are also actively showing their support for her family on a Facebook page.

The students, surrounded by police cars, walked in the street from Saint Maxime high school to the courthouse near Highway 15 and St. Martin.

At the courthouse they met Ronia's family, who leaned on each other as they walked into court.

Extra security

Police and extra security brought into the courthouse to make sure the students did not get out of hand were unnecessary.

"It's only for their security," said Nathalie Lorrain of the Laval police.

People were carrying large photos of Ronia, and while many were visibly upset and angry, nobody took any direct action against the accused.

The students sat quietly as Robert Belanger was led into the courtroom, although several gasps of shock were heard.

Belanger's hearing lasted only a few seconds, as lawyers agreed to postpone his bail hearing until Sept. 17.

The accused kept his back to the crowd and sobbed profusely as his lawyers requested the postponement.

"We have to prove he's dangerous. We'll submit all our arguments on the 17th, but not right now," said prosecutor Jean-Pascal Boucher.

Teen's death

Ronia was struck by a car on Sept. 3 on Levesque Blvd. as she was on her lunch break from school. The collision hurled her into a city bus that had stopped on the narrow road to let her cross.

The driver of the hit-and-run vehicle sped off, and roughly 12 hours later, 22-year-old Robert Belanger turned himself into the police.

Ronia died the next morning of her injuries.

Belanger faces charges of dangerous driving causing death, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Bail difficult

Recent court cases have demonstrated that drivers accused of hit and run are unlikely to get bail. Of note in Belanger's case are his prior convictions for theft, drug possession, and leading police on a high speed case, the fact he was driving with a suspended licence, and is currently out on bail while awaiting trial for fraud.

"It was frustrating for me to have him standing there, pretending he was very emotional and sorry, but it's not his first crime," said Ronia's aunt Marie Tatazian at the courthouse.

If convicted, Belanger faces life in prison.

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100907/mtl_ronia_100907/20100907/?hub=MontrealHome