Blinded student marries in Calgary

A Brazilian couple whose lives were changed by a Calgary criminal's stray bullet got married Thursday in their new hometown.

Jose Neto, 26, and Roberta Porto, 27, tied the knot in a short ceremony in front of close friends and family at Calgary's Reader Rock Garden.

"That was awesome for me and I hope for her," a smiling Neto told reporters after the sunny ceremony. "We just [were] waiting for the great moment, the best moment to do that."

In September 2008, Neto and Porto, were sitting on a park bench on Centre Street South near Chinatown. Several metres away, Roland Ashley Warawa, 30, fired a shot at a drug dealer during a fight over a missing cellphone.

The bullet missed its target and struck Neto in the face, blinding him.

At the time of the shooting, Neto was studying English as he worked toward an international business degree, while Porto, a lawyer in Brazil, was visiting him.

Starting over

After "love and great support" from Calgarians, the couple decided to remain in Calgary. Porto isstarting over with her studies in Canada.

"We knew since we met that we'd be together forever," said Neto.

The couple is applying for permanent residency in Canada and "maybe raise a family here," he added.

"This is the most happiest day in my life, for sure. I'll never forget it. I'm really happy," said a beaming Porto.

Warawa, who was originally charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty to five lesser offences.

The Crown is trying to persuade a judge to declare Warawa who has a lengthy criminal record a dangerous offender, which means he would remainbehind bars indefinitely.