Woman who struck and killed Toronto lawyer with U-Haul truck gets life in prison
The woman behind the wheel of a U-Haul truck that intentionally struck and killed a Toronto lawyer has been sentenced to life in prison.
Justice Peter Bawden delivered Anh Chiem’s sentence Wednesday afternoon.
She was found guilty of first-degree murder in the incident that left 52-year-old Scott Rosen dead in an underground parking garage in 2020.
Chiem initially refused to attend the sentencing hearing, including victim impact statement’s from Rosen’s loved ones, with Bawden saying that the hearing would be delayed as she was not leaving her own cell.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“She has a duty to attend this court. If she refuses to abide by her duty the court will order her to comply,” Bawden told a Toronto courtroom on Wednesday as he issued an unusual extraction order that would forcibly bring her to court.
“Correctional officers are permitted to use whatever force is reasonably necessary,” he said.
Rosen, a commercial litigator, had just finished work at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2020 when he was run down by the driver of a rented U-Haul truck who fled the scene.
Police initially described the scene as a hit-and-run before it was revealed by an eyewitness that Chiem had waited in the truck for Rosen to leave his law firm before she crashed into him.
Emergency crews respond to a fatal incident at an underground parking garage in midtown Toronto on Dec. 18, 2020.
Chiem’s son-in-law had been represented by Rosen and court heard that she had blamed the Toronto lawyer for business troubles she had experienced.
The U-Haul truck was recovered the night of Dec. 18 near Bathurst and Dundas streets. Chiem was arrested at a Toronto home the following week and charged with first-degree murder.
A jury found her guilty earlier this month.
Chiem arrived at the Toronto courtroom on Wednesday from Vanier women’s prison in Milton, Ont.
She sat restrained as she listened to the translation of emotional testimony by people in Rosen's life including Rosen’s mother, Frima.
“Scott was a brilliant lawyer. Justice for the little guy was his aim,” she said. “How has his death impacted my life? I’ve cried a river of tears, screamed and yelled, but it doesn’t bring him back.”
Anh Chiem appears in a Toronto courtroom on May 24, 2023. (CTV News Toronto/John Mantha)
Chiem claimed her innocence through the use of a translator. Bawden called Chiem a “pathological liar” and that future parole officers should not trust what she says to be true.
She is eligible for parole after 25 years served.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Jon Woodward
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
WATCH LIVE Toronto police to release updated list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
Toronto police and law enforcement partners will be releasing the BOLO program’s updated list of the top 25 most wanted fugitives in Canada at a news conference on Tuesday morning.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Fire engulfs old Edmonton municipal airport hangar
A historical hangar at the former Edmonton municipal airport beside the NAIT main campus was on fire Monday night.
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a ploy to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.