MANDEL: Teen hitman gets youth rehabilitation sentence for Scarborough murder

As his victim’s father wept “my son is gone,” the teenaged hitman who killed an innocent tow truck driver in Scarborough got credit for the harsh two years he’s already spent in youth custody due to “humiliating” strip searches and the lack of fresh air for six months while the outdoor yard was closed for repairs.

But Superior Court Justice Maureen Forestell refused to give the teen the even more generous two-for-one credit requested by his lawyer.

Instead, she sentenced A.P., his identity banned under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, to the maximum 10-year youth sentence for murder less the 27 months he’s already spent at a detention centre. The remaining seven years and nine months will be under an Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) Order – with 30 months of that sentence to be spent in custody where he’s to receive treatment for his mental health issues – and the rest back at his family’s affluent home under community supervision.

“A.P. intentionally, deliberately and callously murdered Sulakshan Selvasingam. He caused a devastating loss to Mr. Selvasingam’s family,” the judge said, as the sobs from Selvasingam’s father grew louder.

Pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in June

Now 18, he pleaded guilty in June to first-degree murder in the heartless execution of Selvasingam, 28, on the night of July 6, 2024, after he was lured to a meeting at a Scarborough gas station.

The then-16-year-old young gun was hired by adults connected to the tow truck industry. While he and his buddies were trying to locate their target, A.P. received a phone call with instructions on how to commit the hit: he was to shoot Selvasingam in the body and then finish him off with a bullet to the head. He was to record the murder and send confirmation for payment.

“A.P. asked for Mr. Selvansingam’s address,” Forestell said, “and asked for more money.”

The next night, the teen assassin waited for the tow truck driver at the Shell station and shot him nine times, including in the head, and missed striking his passenger who ducked down in time.

“The offences committed by A.P. have had a profound and devastating impact on the family of the victim. Sulakshan Selvasingam was a kind and thoughtful person who cared for his family and who was deeply loved by them and by his community,” Forestell said as his father gently wept.

“The grief suffered by his family is deep and long-lasting. There is no sentence that can compensate them for this loss or relieve their pain.”

Also hired to shoot up numerous locations

A.P. also pleaded guilty to being hired with his pals to shoot up numerous locations that spring and summer – including several collision and tow truck businesses, movie theatres and even a Richmond Hill public school – with many of the drive-by shootings filmed by the teens.

Forestell sentenced him to a concurrent two years for each of the 15 counts of reckless discharge of a firearm.

“He did so for money although he comes from an affluent family. He created real safety risks to many,” the judge said. “Random and reckless shootings undermine the sense of safety that every person should have when peacefully walking in their city.”

A.P. wasn’t a kid from a deprived background: he went to a private elementary school and both his parents work in the family trucking business.

Forestell said he began getting into trouble in high school when he started using drugs – he once overdosed on Percocet – and was suspended for fighting and bullying. He’s been diagnosed with ADHD, substance abuse disorder and conduct disorder, which made him eligible for the IRCS order, she said.

The judge wasn’t required to give credit for his time in detention but agreed the conditions were “harsh.” After family visits, he was strip searched 68 times and on one occasion, there was no witness and the staff person asked if he “liked it.”

Also, because someone had escaped through a hole in the fence, the outdoor yard at his detention centre was closed for six months to repair it, leaving him no access to fresh air.

In the end, A.P. will have done 57 months in custody for cold-blooded murder.

“I hope that you make the most of this opportunity,” Forestell told him.

She acknowledged that in 16 months, he turns 20 and may be transferred to an adult prison. While she said she’d “strongly” recommend against it, it’s up to the provincial director – not her.

We’re thinking a dose of real hard time for a teen contract killer might definitely be appropriate.

mmandel@postmedia.com

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