A Toronto man who fatally stabbed a stranger at a TTC Metro station has been sentenced to life imprisonment with out the potential of probation for 18 years.
Jordan O’Brien-Tobin, 24, obtained his sentence by the Choose Jane Kelly Superior Courtroom in a room within the middle of the middle on Friday, nearly two years after the homicide of Gabriel Magalhaes, 16, in 2023.
O’Brien-Tobin declared himself responsible of second diploma homicide in November 2024. The place entails an automated life imprisonment, however in query it was the interval of inevitability of probation between 10 and 25 years. The crown had been asking for a interval of 18 years, whereas the protection sought 12 years.
“He was random and was an act of selfish violence. If Gabriel had not been there that day, the good friend of one other particular person, son, may have been the sufferer of Mr. O’Brien-Tobin’s meaningless crime, “Kelly stated.
“It appeared deliberate. Mr. O’Brien-Tobin appears prone to be offended once more. It’s a hazard to our group. “
In keeping with a de facto assertion agreed within the Courtroom, on March 25, 2023, Gabriel was at Keele Metro station with a good friend in his means dwelling when O’Brien-Tobin approached him and stabbed within the chest.
The courtroom heard that O’Brien-Tobin noticed Gabriel and his good friend after he noticed them for the primary time ready for a prepare. He regarded on the boys as they sat on a financial institution, left the station and watched them whereas strolling by an automated doorways sport earlier than approaching, reaching their backpack and stabbing it.
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Gabriel’s good friend and two spectators tried to supply first assist till the paramedics arrived. Gabriel was urgently transferred to the hospital by emergency race, however was declared lifeless at 9:46 pm, and an post-mortem revealed single stab injured within the chest injured Gabriel’s left lung, pericardium and the center, inflicting his demise.
Roughly 20 minutes later, O’Brien-Tobin entered the emergency room on the St. Joseph Well being Middle. The police discovered him sitting within the emergency room, the place he was arrested.
His backpack was seized and examined Forensus. It was discovered that blood in one of many inner compartments belonged to Gabriel. The knife was by no means situated.
A forensic examination was additionally accomplished in O’Brien-Tobin’s mobile phone. The officers found that he was sending messages to his girlfriend, mates and mom earlier than and after the homicide.
The messages included “somebody is dying tn,” “I simply stabbed somebody at random” and “I stabbed somebody and went out along with his.”
Kelly instructed the Courtroom that O’Brien-Tobin is a repeat offender and his felony document and historical past present that it’s unmanageable, uncontrollable and harmful.
The decide stated he has nearly 200 sentences for his historical past, together with a number of crimes for crimes of violence. She identified that he has proven an absolute disdain for judicial orders and was on probation on the time he dedicated this crime.
“Two weeks after being convicted and launched from custody to sexually assault a pilot in a Metro of Toronto, Mr. O’Brien-Tobin dedicated this homicide at a TTC station,” Kelly stated.
Kelly stated Friday that Gabriel’s homicide has had “devastating penalties” for a number of folks.
“It was a random act of violence required to a 16 -year -old stranger. The implications of Gabriel’s homicide are indescribably tragic to his household, “Kelly stated.
In an affect assertion of the sufferer learn within the Courtroom in the beginning of this month, Magalhaes’ mom wrote concerning the indescribable unhappiness and despair she has felt since she misplaced her son that day.
“Each ounce of drive is required that I’ve to proceed residing,” Andrea Magalhaes wrote.
“I failed a very powerful work of my existence: preserve my son secure. I worry for the lifetime of my son Lucas, I worry for all youngsters. If solely love may solely defend our youngsters. I can by no means really feel secure. I’ll by no means sleep quietly at night time. “
Jordan O’Brien-Tobin (left) and Gabriel Magalhaes are seen on a collage with out date. On Wednesday, O’Brien-Tobin declared himself responsible of Gabriel’s second diploma luster in March 2023.
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Kelly on Friday additionally talked concerning the broader affect that the incident had.
“His homicide has had a chilling impact on members of the group usually, and particularly those that entry the TTC,” Kelly stated.
“Soció to our group and has made the runners within the subway really feel insecure.”
The stabbing came about throughout a time when violence within the TTC community was within the headlines. At the moment, the TTC stated it will spend $ 5 million to enhance safety after a sequence of violent incidents, together with stabbing, BB gun shootings and an alleged swarm.
The measures included a rise within the presence of particular brokers, supervisors, educated group safety ambassadors and dissemination tools.
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