The jury in the case against Andrei Donet has reached a verdict of guilty of second-degree murder in the tragic killing of 16-year-old Jannai Dopwell-Bailey. The decision came after a day of deliberation and some questions from the jury regarding Donet’s intent in the crime.
Dopwell-Bailey was pepper-sprayed, assaulted, and fatally stabbed outside his school in Montreal on October 18, 2021. The prosecution argued that a rivalry between two gangs in the area was the motive behind the killing.
In a separate trial, a minor was also found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the same incident. The minor, who had been expelled from a local outreach program, was identified as the one who delivered the fatal stab wounds to Dopwell-Bailey.
After the verdict was delivered, the jury recommended a 12-year sentence for Donet before he becomes eligible for parole. The minimum sentence is ten years, while the maximum is 25 years.
The case will now move to the sentencing stage later this month. The prosecutor commended the jury for their conscientious work and expressed sympathy for the victim’s family. The conviction brings some closure to a tragic chapter in the community, but the impact of the loss of a young life will be felt for years to come.