Speeding cop who struck and killed 18-year-old pedestrian handed 8 month sentence

A judge has sentenced York Regional Police officer Remo Romano to eight months in jail for dangerous driving causing death in the killing of Natasha "Carla" Abogado.

Later in the day, an appeal court judge granted bail to Det.-Const. Romano, who plans to appeal both the sentence and the conviction.

Abogado's family sobbed in the courtroom as the sentence was handed down. After Romano was granted permission to appeal, they left the appeal court in tears, too upset to speak with the media.

Carla Abogado's family left the courthouse, upset, her mother Sonia (middle) in tears, after they learned that the police officer plans to appeal. (Vedran Lesic/CBC News)

Abogado, 18, died in February 2014, after she stepped off a bus at Warden Avenue and St. Clair Avenue East to cross the street to go home.

Abogado was jaywalking across St Clair Avenue East; Romano, on duty at the time, was driving 115 km/h, well above the 60 km/h speed limit.

He was driving an unmarked police truck, trying to catch up with a police surveillance team, though the court heard the team was not in any danger or on an urgent case

This case is unusual, as it's the third time Romano, 47, has gone to trial for the crime, and it may not be the last.

The first trial resulted in a deadlocked jury. When the case was heard again, Romano was found not guilty.

The crown successfully appealed that verdict, resulting in this most recent sentence.

The case could go to trial a fourth time. He and his lawyers have 30 days to officially file the appeal.

Judge calls Abogado's death a loss to her family and society

In his written sentence, Superior Court judge Brian O'Marra disagreed with the crown assessment that Romano had not shown remorse for the incident.

The crown had asked for a 12-month sentence, something Justice O'Marra called "excessive," while Romano's defence had asked for no jail time, with time served in the community and probation.

"The Abogado family are clearly kind and generous, as was Carla," O'Marra wrote in his sentencing report, calling her death a loss to the family and society. "That loss must be reflected in the sentence I impose."

William MacKenzie, Remo Romano's lawyer, called the eight-month jail sentence 'shocking and greatly disappointing.' His client plans to appeal and was granted bail. (Vedran Lesic/CBC News)

"The eight-month jail sentence, quite frankly, was shocking and greatly disappointing to [Romano's] family," his lawyer William MacKenzie told reporters outside the courthouse.

MacKenzie said the judge not mentioning "mitigating circumstances," such as the long four-and-a-half year legal process his client has endured or Abogado running across the road in dark clothing could provide "fruitful grounds of appeal."

York Regional Police placed Romano on administrative duties following the criminal charge. The police service confirmed that Romano will continue in that role, pending the outcome of the appeal.

Romano, a married father of five, said he suffered PTSD following the crash.

Abogado's family had previously filed a $2.2-million lawsuit against the York Regional Police Service, a civil case that is ongoing.