Pubdate: Fri, 25 May 2007
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Sam Pazzano, Courts Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)

TEEN ADMITS HE'S A KILLER

Popular Student Was Slain After Marijuana Deal Went Sour in Coffee Shop

A teen admitted yesterday he killed a Downsview high school student 
after a pot deal went awry at coffee shop.

Oluwasegun Akinsanya, now 19, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 
April 20, 2006 slaying of Danilo Celestino, 17, shortly after 3 p.m. 
at the Coffee Time Donut Shop at 1010 Wilson Ave.

Akinsanya was sentenced by Justice David Watt to the equivalent of 
five years imprisonment, less 26 months credit for pre-trial custody.

The then 18-year old youth met Celestino, who sold small quantities 
of pot, at the coffee shop. Celestino and Akinsanya went to the 
bathroom to make a drug exchange, said Crown attorney David Wright in 
reading an agreed statement of facts. Celestino pulled a knife and 
slashed Akinsanya's neck twice, above the rear hair-line, as he 
exited the bathroom.

Akinsanya pushed Celestino back into the washroom and disarmed him. 
The teen stabbed Celestino at least twice and the fatal thrust into 
his back nicked his aorta, causing massive bleeding.

Both teens bolted from the coffee shop, but Celestino collapsed 
outside on the sidewalk while his killer raced eastbound on Wilson Ave.

Akinsanya, who was caught on Downsview Secondary School's 
surveillance video as he trolled the hallways looking for a marijuana 
seller on Bob Marley day, surrendered to police four days later.

On Television

His image was shown on TV that day and his lawyer Ted Royle arranged 
for his client's surrender.

Det. Stacy Gallant, the officer in charge of the Celestino probe as 
well as Wednesday's fatal shooting of another teen at nearby C. W. 
Jefferys, said the video cameras proved to be invaluable.

"It definitely helped us come to a resolution in this case. 
Unfortunately, there are no security cameras in place (at Jefferys). 
Security cameras are extremely important to us in solving cases," Gallant said.

"This was a great tragedy to all the students and it puts the lie to 
high school students who think that dealing in marijuana doesn't kill 
people. Yet this led to another young person dying due to that."

No one knows why Celestino lashed out at his killer, who has never 
given a statement to police, said Gallant.

"He was a good, well-rounded kid with a promising future ahead," he added.

In victim-impact statements read in court, Celestino was portrayed as 
a "dedicated student who aspired to be a computer 
programmer-technician" and was well-loved by his family members, 
friends and students.

Royle said while "clearly there was provocation" since his client was 
stabbed, he replied with "excessive" force and was guilty of 
manslaughter, not second-degree murder as he was charged.

"He didn't bring the weapon. He didn't anticipate the violence, it 
was completely unexpected," said Royle. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake