By Canadian Press

Man pleads guilty in hit-and-run that killed 7-year-old Ukrainian girl in Montreal

May 9, 2024 | 12:45 PM

MONTREAL — A man who struck and killed a seven-year-old Ukrainian refugee with his car has pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident.

Juan Manuel Becerra Garcia, 46, entered the plea today at the Montreal courthouse.

Seven-year-old Mariia Legenkovska was walking to school with her brother and sister on Dec. 13, 2022, when she was hit by a car.

Becerra Garcia drove away from the scene but turned himself in to police later that day.

Mariia and her family moved to Montreal in 2022 to escape the Russian invasion of their country.

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Her father, Andrii Legenkovska, was fighting for Ukraine’s territorial defence forces when she was killed, and he travelled to Montreal from the front lines to bury his daughter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2024.

The Canadian Press