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This article was published 9/9/2014 (2203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man has been spared a jail sentence for striking and killing a woman with his van – then fleeing the scene of the tragedy.

Ravindra Nath Shilcharan, 37, was given a 15-month conditional penalty on Tuesday after pleading guilty to failing to stop at the scene of an accident. The Crown dropped a much more serious charge of criminal negligence causing death, saying they were unable to prove Shilcharan was to blame for the Dec. 23, 2010 death.

Shilcharan claims he had no idea he had hit a person as he drove on McPhillips Street near Pacific Avenue.

"He thought he hit something. But at first he thought it was a curb. He was reckless in not going back to check," defence lawyer Jay Prober told court. "It genuinely was an accident."

Maurina Digna Evangelista, 53, suffered fatal injuries. The Crown admitted she may have caught Shilcharan by surprise by stepping out into the intersection as he made a right turn. She was carrying groceries in her arms, was wearing a scarf around her face and likely had an obstructed view.

There is also no evidence Shilcharan was speeding or distracted while driving, nor any suggestion he was impaired. Of course, the fact he fled the scene would have made detection impossible even if that was the case.

Shilcharan is no stranger to the justice system and was actually on parole at the time for a 1999 conviction in the so-called "van rapists" case which saw several women forced into a vehicle and sexually assaulted. He was given 13-years in prison for his role in those crimes.

Prober told court Tuesday his client had his parole revoked following the 2010 crash. He then spent another year in prison before he was released.

Shilcharan has been out on bail for more than three years without incident. As part of his conditional sentence, he will be under a daily curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., must abstain from alcohol and must perform 50 hours of community service work.

"I’m very sorry for the loss and the pain and all the suffering I caused for this deceased’s family," Shilcharan said Tuesday.

Evangelista’s loved ones were not in court and did not file a victim impact statement, telling the Crown they just want to privately grieve and move on with their lives.

www.mikeoncrime.com