MANDEL: Senior denied inheritance sentenced to life for running down beneficiary

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When his longtime common-law spouse died in 2023, Ciro Garofano was furious to learn she’d left money to her niece while he’d been completely cut out of her will.

So Garofano, 79 at the time, used his car as a weapon to deliberately run her over not once but three times, killing Karen Montague, 61, and also injuring her husband Wayne Montague and her elderly aunt Joyce Collins.

After pleading guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in May, the 81-year-old killer was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years — meaning he will almost certainly die before knowing freedom again.

“The crime itself was horrific. It was senseless and brutal,” said Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly as she delivered her judgment. “Mr. Garofano caused this family catastrophic trauma.”

He came to Canada from Italy when he was 22 and worked various jobs, including factory work and truck driving, until he fractured his back and collected worker’s compensation. Garofano had lived with Elsie Gilchrist in her Cassandra Blvd. apartment since 1978 until his common-law spouse moved into a nursing home, dying four years later in July 2023.

But before her death, Gilchrist gave her niece power of attorney over her finances and also made her a beneficiary in her will — while leaving out Garofano.

The judge didn’t believe he planned his revenge when Garafano asked Karen Montague to pick up her late aunt’s belongings on Nov. 15, 2023, with Gilchrist’s 88-year-old sister Collins — with whom he didn’t really get along — and her daughter Eileen Mignardi.

That morning, Montague’s husband drove the three women to the Scarborough building where they cleared out some of Gilchrist’s possessions. Montague and Collins then went to speak with Garofano, who was waiting in his car in the visitor’s parking lot.

Court heard Neighbours reported hearing a heated argument. As Collins and Montague turned to walk away, Garofano drove at them and knocked both to the ground. Mignardi managed to pull her mother away, but the driver wasn’t done.

Court heard he struck Montague’s husband and his vehicle, then reversed and proceeded twice around the roundabout in front of the building, running over Montague two more times. Garofano then parked and waited to be arrested.

A retired special education teacher and mother of a son, Montague died soon after her arrival at the hospital from blunt-force trauma. Her husband suffered a minor head injury and continues to struggle with extreme PTSD, which is understandable, the judge said, since he was rendered helpless to save his wife as she lay motionless on the ground.

Collins was treated for a broken right femur and kneecap and died several months later of cancer, which was exacerbated by the physical and mental trauma of being struck by Garofano.

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The surviving family members have been decimated, the judge said.

“Karen was a retired teacher, beloved by her students, family and colleagues. She recently retired and looked forward to sharing a long, fulfilling retirement with her husband. Sadly, this is not to be,” wrote sister-in-law Sandra Montague in her victim impact statement. “Her loss is senseless, traumatic and (the) violent way is totally inexplicable.”

Mignardi said she continues to relive the horrific scene every day. “I can’t unsee what happened. I can’t forget my mother lying face down not knowing if she was OK and moving her out of the way, feeling helpless seeing my cousin being run over multiple times and the sound of my own voice screaming for help. Since that day, my life has not been the same.”

Garofano’s plea to second-degree murder meant an automatic life term and both sides agreed to concurrent 10-year sentences for the aggravated assaults. The only issue for Kelly to determine was when he can apply for parole: The Crown had urged 22 to 23 years, while the defence proposed 16.

The judge settled on 18 years of parole ineligibility for the cruel attack. “All the victims were unarmed and vulnerable,” she said. “The impact on the victims is unimaginable. As eloquently described by Crown counsel, the fabric of the family was ripped apart.”

All over an inheritance he was denied? Now this greedy old man is destined to spend his final days behind bars.

mmandel@postmedia.com