A Windsor man has been sentenced to seven years behind bars for the shooting death of another man two years ago.
David Formosa, 47, will serve another three years and 10 months in prison after time already served for fatally shooting 19-year-old Dallas Nelson at a home on University Avenue near Marentette Avenue in February of 2017. Police said the shooting occurred following an argument between Formosa and Nelson over Nelson's girlfriend. Nelson was driven to Windsor Regional Hospital where he died of his injuries later that day.
Formosa pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January and was credited with three years and two months' time served. He had been in custody since being arrested for the crime.
He rose in court on Tuesday afternoon to apologize for his involvement in the death after several victim impact statements were read in court.
Nelson's sister read her statement in court, followed by his mother's statement, who mentioned through tears that she had once considered Formosa a friend.
A statement read on behalf of David Nelson Sr, Dallas' father, read in part, "I miss him every day. My kid is never coming back." Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse after the sentence was handed down, he held up a large photo of Dallas while describing the kind of young man he was.
"A great smile, a skateboarder," said Nelson. "He didn't have a chance at life yet, at all. I know he's looking down on us, that's the best outcome that could've come out of it today. Hopefully, we can get some closure, but I don't think so."
The Crown was seeking a sentence of eight years, but Formosa's defence lawyer, Christopher Uwagboe, cited Formosa's efforts to improve his literacy over a stretch of several years while staying out of trouble.
-With files from Paul Pedro