A man convicted of first-degree murder in connection with a brazen shooting on the patio of a crowded Toronto restaurant more than a decade ago has escaped prison in British Columbia.
Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil, 35, was one of four men convicted in the June 18, 2012, killing of Johnny Raposo at the Sicilian Sidewalk Café on College Street in Toronto’s Little Italy.
Raposo was shot four times in the head at point-blank range by a man dressed as a construction worker as soccer fans gathered in the courtyard to watch a Euro Cup game.
It was later revealed in court that the shooter, Dean Wiwchar, was a hitman who was hired by the other three accused parties – Alkhalil, Nicola Nero and Martino Caputo – to carry out the killing as part of a fight with roots in the criminal. underworld
Alkhalil was the last of the four suspects arrested for the murder and had to be extradited from Greece.
All four men were eventually sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years in 2017.
British Columbia RCMP say they believe Alkhalil left the North Fraser Pre-Trial Center in a White Econoline van with “two others posing as contractors or doing work” Thursday night.
It is unclear where he went next.
“Alkhalil is considered dangerous, so if you see Alkhalil, police are asking you to stay away and call 911 immediately,” an RCMP news release states.
RCMP say Alkhalil was last seen wearing a black suit and high visibility vest.