Calgary shooter who blinded student jailed indefinitely

A Calgary man who blinded a bystander in a 2008 shooting has been declared a dangerous offender.

At a provincial court hearing in Calgary on Thursday, a crying Roland Ashley Warawa, 32,was sentenced to prisonfor "an indeterminate period," meaning until the National Parole Board decides he is fit to be conditionally released.

Under Canadian law,such a sentence is mandatory when someone is declared adangerous offender.

In September 2008, Warawa fired a gun at a drug dealer during a dispute in downtown Calgary. A stray bullet hit Brazilian student Jose Ribamar Ribeiro Neto in the face as he was sitting on a nearby park bench with his girlfriend.

Neto ended up losing sight in both of his eyes.

Warawa subsequently pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and other related charges.

"Our client has always admitted what he did and accepted responsibility for it," defence lawyer Ryan Claxton told reporters outside the hearing. "What he's disagreed with is the sentence that was sought by the Crown, and that's likely what's going through his mind at this point."

At a dangerous offender hearing last spring, a psychologist testified that Warawa has a history of violence and drug abuse and that on a clinical rating scale, he fits the classification of a psychopath.

In 1997, Warawa was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder in connectionwith a robbery at a Calgary jewelry store.

In 2005, he served another three months in jail for assaulting two police officers.

In Judge Catherine Skene's written decision, she pointed out that Warawa has spent one-third of his life in custody.

She agreed withthe psychologist's testimony that Warawa "is at high risk for engaging in future violent offending."

The Crown prosecutor told reporters after the sentencing that it will be at least seven years before Warawa's first parole hearing.

"He's in jail basically until the National Parole Board deems him fit to be released on conditions," said Gordon Wong.

Claxton said his client is very disappointed with the results of the hearing.

"It's a sentence that's the most severe that's allowed in Canadian law," Claxton said. "He's thinking about whether he can appeal it, and that's something he'll be looking at."