G20 rioters plead guilty to smashing windows, assaulting cops
Youri Couture and Guillame Constantineau given six months in custody
Two men have pleaded guilty to smashing store windows, assaulting officers and wearing masks during the G20 protests in Toronto.
Youri Couture, 25, and Guillame Constantineau, 32, were each sentenced to six months in custody after pleading guilty to criminal charges Friday in a Montreal court.
Police say that on June 26, 2010, Couture threw a long wooden post over a crowd of protesters and into a line of police officers at Queen Street West and John Street.
He was also captured on video throwing a rock through the window of a Starbucks on Yonge Street. Couture was wearing a red-and-black bandana over his face during both incidents.
On the same day, police say Constantineau used a wooden stake to hit a police officer over the head, then used the stake to stab at the officer’s riot shield.
He was also seen smashing the front door of a Winners store on Yonge Street, causing $21,000 in damages. Police say the store was open at the time and people were inside when the door was smashed.
Police say Constantineau was wearing a black mask over his face to disguise his identity
Both men pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a peace officer, masking their faces and endangering the safety of the public.
More than 400 people were arrested during the riot after protests against the G20 summit meeting, which was being held in the city, turned violent. Four police vehicles were set ablaze, store and bank windows were smashed and much of the area was put under security lockdowns.
The riots also led to charges of misconduct against police officers, after they were accused of “kettling”, or boxing in, protesters.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/g20-rioters-plead-guilty-to-smashing-windows-assaulting-cops-1.1913339