Machete killer gets parole eligibility reduced - First Degree Murder Lawyer Ottawa

Date: 13 Nov 1985
By John Kessel
Citizen staff writer

An Ottawa man who killed O'Connor Street shopkeeper Chuck Dabaghi with a machete in1982 has had his parole eligibility reduced by the Ontario Court of Appeal. Andrew Maxwell lngs, now 23, was sentenced in 1982 to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 16 years. Andrew Maxwell lngs now 23, was sentenced in 1982 to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 16 years. Ings appealed his sentence and a panel of three judges decided he will now be eligible for parole after 13 years. On March 1, 1982, Ings, armed with his brother's machete, killed the 37-year-old Dabaghi with two blows to the head. Ings pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October, 1982. He'd originally been charged with first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life with no parole for 25 years. Supreme Court of Ontario Justice Joseph O'Brien, the man who sentenced lngs, called the murder a "callous and cowardly act" by a person "who has no respect for life." In a rare move during sentencing, O'Brien gave Ings life without eligibility for parole for 16 years, despite the fact that Crown Attorney Andrejs Berzins had requested only 15 years. During the appeal Ottawa lawyer Gary Chayko argued that 16 years without parole was excessive. Even the prosecutor in the appeal said 15 years would be reasonable. The appeal judges decided 13 years would be sufficient. lngs will be able to apply for release in 1995. If released by the parole board, he'll be under lifetime supervision. In 1982, eight days after the killing, Ings turned himself in to Ottawa police and confessed be killed Dabaghi "to get money without witnesses." A total of $150 had been stolen. logs had just been released from jail after serving seven months for break and enter.