Young stickup man spared prison sentence
Judge says Mahamat Yaya, 19, of Fredericton, has lived life of “trauma and chaos,” and deserves to be shown compassion and kindness for chance at more productive life
A young refugee who menaced an elderly Fredericton couple when he robbed them at gunpoint has avoided further time behind bars, as a judge ruled his tragic background merited a lenient sentence.
Mahamat Yaya, 19, of Brunswick Street in Fredericton, was back before provincial court Judge Cameron Gunn on Friday to hear his decision on sentence for serious crimes.
Among his offences were a Jan. 5, 2023, robbery of Carl and Rose McLeod at their home while he was armed with an Airsoft BB gun, possession of a stolen 2009 Nissan XTerra belonging to Joseph McNeil on May 8, 2023, and various breaches of his release conditions.
The latter offences are what resulted in him being remanded until the resolution of the cases against him.