Mike on Crime

By Mike McIntyre
Winnipeg Free Press

A Winnipeg man was sentenced to three years prison today for a violent “road-rage” attack that began with a chance encounter in a McDonald‘s drive-thru and ended with one victim fighting for his life.
Shane Connolly, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this month to aggravated assault for the May 2005 incident on Main Street.
Trouble began when a 16-year-old boy tossed a candy toward a vehicle ahead of them in line as they waited to place their fast-food order, court was told.
The young man thought he recognized someone in the car and wanted to get their attention. He quickly realized it was a case of mistaken identity.
The driver of the Sunfire was not amused and called two friends – one of which was Connolly – and told them what had happened.
Connolly and a co-accused then got into a van and began following the teens, with the Sunfire joining the chase. The occupants of both vehicle were co-ordinating their efforts by cellphone, court was told.
The men chased the teens through the Maples, eventually cornering them on a dead end street. Connolly got out of the van and beat on the teens’ car with a metal dog chain.
The teens escaped and the chase continued for several more kilometres before they lost control of their car and crashed into a dumpster.
Crown attorney Scott Cooper said a young passenger was knocked out cold. The driver pleaded with Connolly, who said ‘‘that’s not my problem‘‘ and began beating him with the dog chain.
The driver suffered a concussion and several broken bones in his hand as a result of the beating. He also injured his knee and ribs as a result of the crash.
The unconscious passenger had both head and internal injuries from the crash and was rushed to hospital in critical condition. He has since made a full recovery.