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Judge to announce sentencing decision Thursday

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A man convicted of a string of violent purse snatchings near two Vancouver SkyTrain stations apologized to his victims and his family during a sentencing hearing Wednesday.


Frank Siniscalchi robbed four Asian women near the 29th Avenue and Nanaimo Street SkyTrain stations over a 36-hour period beginning on New Year's Eve 2006.

Frank Siniscalchi, 38, a former hospital worker, said he was sorry for the pain he's caused family and friends as well as the fear he created in the community.

He was convicted of five counts of aggravated assault in January.

The father of three told the provincial court he was addicted to drugs when the attacks happened and called his addiction a deadly poison that took over his body.

Four of the robberies — all against Asian women — occurred near the 29th Avenue SkyTrain station and Nanaimo Street station during a 36-hour period beginning on New Year's Eve 2006. Siniscalchi hit his victims with a metal bar, leaving one elderly woman with permanent brain damage.

Defence lawyer Philip Scarisbrick is asking for a jail term of four to five years, with credit for the time Frank Siniscalchi served in pre-trial custody.

At the time of those robberies, he was free on bail after having been arrested for a June 2006 attack.

Three of the victims submitted impact statements that were read out loud in court. One woman wrote she suffered from nightmares and described the robbery as a hate crime. Another woman, who had to stay in hospital for 16 days, wrote that she can no longer meet people in social situations.

The Crown is seeking a 10-year jail sentence. Crown prosecutor Garth Loeppky described Siniscalchi's crimes as "extremely violent and cowardly."

Defence lawyer Philip Scarisbrick is asking for a jail term of four to five years, less 30 months credit for time Siniscalchi has already served.

He said his client is not a career criminal and likely won't be rehabilitated if he spends a long time in jail.

"He's been having a difficult time.… He's been in segregation for most of the time he's been in custody, with 22 hours a day in his cell," Scarisbrick told reporters outside the courthouse.

The provincial court judge reserved his sentencing decision until Thursday

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SkyTrain mugger sentenced to 8 years in jail

A man convicted in a string of violent purse snatchings near two Vancouver SkyTrain stations was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison in a B.C. provincial court.

Judge Raymond Low handed down the sentence in Vancouver for Frank Siniscalchi, who robbed four Asian women near the 29th Avenue and Nanaimo Street SkyTrain stations over a 36-hour period, beginning on New Year's Eve 2006.

Frank Siniscalchi robbed four Asian women near the 29th Avenue and Nanaimo Street SkyTrain stations over a 36-hour period beginning on New Year's Eve 2006.
At the time of those robberies, he was free on bail after having been arrested for a June 2006 attack.

The women were all struck by a metal object and one of them suffered permanent brain damage. Low said it was a miracle that none of the women were killed.

On Wednesday, the 38-year-old former hospital worker apologized in court for the pain he has caused the victims as well as their families, friends and the community at large.

He was found guilty in January on five counts of robbery.

Siniscalchi, a father of three, told the provincial court he was addicted to drugs when the attacks happened and described his addiction a deadly poison that took over his body.

Due to the 30 months that he was given credit for as time served, Siniscalchi has been sentenced to spend a total of 5½ more years in jail.

His defence lawyer, Philip Scarisbrick, had asked for a jail term of four to five years, less credit for time Siniscalchi has already served.