A man who walked into a popular College Street bar and started shooting didn't mean to hurt anyone, an Ontario judge ruled Thursday.
Salvatore Bellissimo was acquitted of attempted murder and instead was convicted of the lesser charge of aggravated assault.
The verdict came seven years after the shooting at Coco Lezzone, a trendy eatery in Toronto's Little Italy neighbourhood. The bar's owner, Steve Solari was shot in the back.
Bellissimo evaded police for six years and was the subject of an international manhunt during that time.
The shooting happened in April, 2000 after Bellissimo got into a fight and was asked to leave Coco Lezzone. He left but returned several minutes later and fired at least six shots randomly into the bar.
The judge ruled that Bellissimo only meant to frighten people at the bar. His intent was not to kill them, the judge said.
The judge also didn't punish Bellissimo for spending six years on the run. He concluded the man simply didn't want to spend the time in pretrial custody.
"I can't say I'm pleased with the results," Det. Gordon Scott, the lead police investigator in the case told CTV Toronto after the verdict. "I'm somewhat disappointed with the ruling but I'm in the hands of our judicial system."
Scott called Bellissimo's actions that day "outrageous."
"It's outrageous behaviour," he said. "This city has suffered enough with gun violence in public places."
Bellissimo's wife Zoi, who was in court when the judge rendered his verdict, said she was pleased with the judge's decision.
"I'm glad it's all over and I feel justice has been served," she told CTV Toronto outside the courtroom.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Chris Eby
