NEWMARKET, Ont. — The family of a Toronto-area police officer who was killed during a routine traffic stop is pleased a teen has been convicted of first-degree murder.
A jury found the 19-year-old guilty Thursday night in the death of York Regional police officer Garrett Styles.
Styles had pulled over a van for a routine traffic stop in Newmarket, north of Toronto, in the early hours of June 28, 2011.
There was an altercation and the van sped off with the officer clinging to the door for 300 metres.
The van flipped, pinning Styles, who later died in hospital.
In a statement released Thursday, Styles' family said the outcome serves as a reminder there are consequences to the choices people make.
"We are relieved the accused in this case has been held responsible for this crime," said Styles' father Garry, a retired York Regional police officer.
The chief of the York Regional force also expressed his satisfaction with the verdict.
"His (Garrett's) loss is still felt every day across our organization," said Chief Eric Jolliffe in the statement. "We respect the justice system in which we operate and believe justice has been done in this case."
First-degree murder carries an automatic life prison sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
The teen was left a quadriplegic after the crash.
