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FRIENDS, FAMILY PAY RESPECTS TO RONIA MANSOURIAN
CTV.ca
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100909/mtl_visit_100909/20100909/?hub=MontrealHome
Sept 10 2010
Canada
The family of teenage hit-and-run victim Ronia Mansourian took another
step in the long healing process Thursday as a visitation was held
at St-Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church in Outremont.
But as they walked into the church, the family was still looking for
answers as to how this tragedy could have happened.
"Especially with the father," said family friend Vicken Darakdjian.
"He doesn't believe that it's happened. It's very shocking."
Ronia, 15, was struck by a car on Sept. 3 on Levesque Blvd. as she
was on her lunch break from school. The collision hurled her into a
city bus that had stopped on the narrow road to let her cross.
The reality of the incident still hasn't fully sunk in for those
close to her.
"I don't believe that it's her, really her in the accident," Tanya
Dakessian, a friend, told CTV Montreal's Maya Johnson outside the
church. "I still don't believe it. When you see her, it's not really
her."
Ronia was placed in a simple white casket, with her friends and family
struggling to console each other. Wreaths of flowers were placed at
the altar, including one in the shape of the CH logo of her beloved
Montreal Canadiens.
Throughout the evening, a steady stream of mourners came to pay
their respects.
"When something bad like that happens everyone kind of gathers to
support each other and that's a good thing," said Amber Seguin,
a friend of Mansourian's sister, Goldie.
Ronia was struck and killed by a speeding driver with a suspended
license last Friday in Laval and her death has rocked much of the
Armenian community.
The driver of the hit-and-run vehicle sped off, and roughly 12 hours
later, 22-year-old Robert Belanger turned himself into the police.
Ronia died the next morning of her injuries.
Belanger faces charges of dangerous driving causing death, and leaving
the scene of an accident. He'll be back in court next Friday for a
bail hearing.
Recent court cases have demonstrated that drivers accused of hit
and run are unlikely to get bail. Of note in Belanger's case are his
prior convictions for theft, drug possession, and leading police on
a high speed case, the fact he was driving with a suspended licence,
and is currently out on bail while awaiting trial for fraud.
If convicted, Belanger faces life in prison.
Meanwhile, Ronia will be laid to rest on Friday, yet another step in
this sad journey for her devastated family.
"No one should have such an experience," Darakdjian said. "You bury
your daughter, a child, your own child. It's very, very difficult."
From: A. Papazian
CTV.ca
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100909/mtl_visit_100909/20100909/?hub=MontrealHome
Sept 10 2010
Canada
The family of teenage hit-and-run victim Ronia Mansourian took another
step in the long healing process Thursday as a visitation was held
at St-Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church in Outremont.
But as they walked into the church, the family was still looking for
answers as to how this tragedy could have happened.
"Especially with the father," said family friend Vicken Darakdjian.
"He doesn't believe that it's happened. It's very shocking."
Ronia, 15, was struck by a car on Sept. 3 on Levesque Blvd. as she
was on her lunch break from school. The collision hurled her into a
city bus that had stopped on the narrow road to let her cross.
The reality of the incident still hasn't fully sunk in for those
close to her.
"I don't believe that it's her, really her in the accident," Tanya
Dakessian, a friend, told CTV Montreal's Maya Johnson outside the
church. "I still don't believe it. When you see her, it's not really
her."
Ronia was placed in a simple white casket, with her friends and family
struggling to console each other. Wreaths of flowers were placed at
the altar, including one in the shape of the CH logo of her beloved
Montreal Canadiens.
Throughout the evening, a steady stream of mourners came to pay
their respects.
"When something bad like that happens everyone kind of gathers to
support each other and that's a good thing," said Amber Seguin,
a friend of Mansourian's sister, Goldie.
Ronia was struck and killed by a speeding driver with a suspended
license last Friday in Laval and her death has rocked much of the
Armenian community.
The driver of the hit-and-run vehicle sped off, and roughly 12 hours
later, 22-year-old Robert Belanger turned himself into the police.
Ronia died the next morning of her injuries.
Belanger faces charges of dangerous driving causing death, and leaving
the scene of an accident. He'll be back in court next Friday for a
bail hearing.
Recent court cases have demonstrated that drivers accused of hit
and run are unlikely to get bail. Of note in Belanger's case are his
prior convictions for theft, drug possession, and leading police on
a high speed case, the fact he was driving with a suspended licence,
and is currently out on bail while awaiting trial for fraud.
If convicted, Belanger faces life in prison.
Meanwhile, Ronia will be laid to rest on Friday, yet another step in
this sad journey for her devastated family.
"No one should have such an experience," Darakdjian said. "You bury
your daughter, a child, your own child. It's very, very difficult."
From: A. Papazian