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A jury has found Jesse Aaron Bleck, 29, guilty of driving while prohibited and failing to remain at the scene of a collision causing bodily harm in the hit-and-run of Tristan Roby.
The decision came 24 hours after closing arguments from Crown prosecutor Artem Orlov and Bleck’s defence lawyer, Geoff Snow.
“I’m really pleased with the outcome,” said Roby’s mother, Abby. “I can hardly wait to go home right now and talk to Tristan and let him know that it’s over, because this has been weighing on him for the last six weeks.”
The jury ultimately had to decide who was behind the wheel of the silver Nissan Altima that struck Roby, then 17, leaving him with life-altering injuries on the night of July 21, 2019. The incident happened when Roby was riding his bike along Exeter Road with a friend.
The trial saw a total of 17 witnesses over the course of 24 days.
The jury heard there were three people inside the vehicle who fled after parking in a nearby motel parking lot. Orlov argued evidence pointed to Bleck as the one responsible for what happened to Roby.
Snow argued there was not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client was behind the wheel.
Abby described the trial as “confusing with many moving pieces” and a lot of “really good theatrics.”
She shared gratitude after the verdict outside London’s Ontario Court of Justice Wednesday.
“I want to just say thank you so much to the jury [for] a three-week trial that turned into six weeks. Their ability to stick with it, to take their time to go through the evidence and to make the decision that they had made today was wonderful,” she said.
“I believe that’s the right decision.”
The last four years have had agonizing days, she said, and good days. She has some more concerns for her son’s health, as he’s had difficulty swallowing.
The 2019 collision was a life-changing event, she said, noting it was 1,487 days ago when everything changed.
“Everybody who knew him loved him. He was funny. He was kind. He wanted simple stuff in life,” she said. “All he wanted was a wife and kids…and [to] enjoy life.
“It’s gone. He will never ever be that same person.”
Tristan turned 22 years old during the trial on July 24.
The court will decide a sentencing date for Bleck on September 12.
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