Former Teacher Reflects On Troubled Path Of Slain Ex-student ‘bobby The Greek’ - Beritaja

A Montreal coach says he is struggling pinch condolences and regret aft learning 1 of his erstwhile students, a man later known arsenic an organized crime figure, was shot dormant successful a brazen daylight onslaught astatine a Laval Starbucks past week.

Forty-year-old Charalambos Theologou, known connected arsenic ‘Bobby the Greek,’ was killed astatine 10:30 a.m. astatine the commercialized plaza successful what constabulary person described arsenic a targeted hit. He had a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for supplier trafficking, conspiracy and weapons offences.

But to James Watts, an pedagogue and main astatine Education Plus, an replacement backstage precocious schoolhouse for struggling teens successful Saint-Laurent, Theologou was erstwhile a curious, energetic student pinch promise.

“Curious, afloat of life, a spot of a comedian successful class, but he did what was required for him to graduate,” Watts told BERITAJA successful an question and reply Wednesday.

Watts said he tries to enactment successful touch pinch galore of his erstwhile students, celebrating their successes and mourning their losses. But this time, he said the news was much difficult for him.

“I deliberation my condolences has much to do pinch a life that could person been,” he said. “I deliberation about what he could person done pinch his life if he had made amended choices.”

Watts keeps a 2005 newspaper clipping showing a smiling Theologou successful the backmost of a constabulary car aft a supplier bust — a achy reminder of the move his life took. He remembers seeing him again about a decade ago, erstwhile Theologou attended a relative’s graduation.

“He told maine that he was turning his life around, and I really believed him,” Watts said. “But astatine the clip I noticed he was besides wearing a search bracelet and had to beryllium home.”

After Theologou’s killing, Watts revisited immoderate of his aged schoolwork, reflecting connected whether he could person done thing differently.

“I’m not blaming myself,” he said, “but I wouldn’t beryllium a awesome coach if I didn’t return the clip to bespeak and think, ‘Can I amended connected what I’m doing?’”

Youth defence lawyer Tiago Murias says while immoderate young offenders autumn done the cracks, about find their footing and enactment retired of trouble.

“We don’t spot the ones the strategy helped,” Murias said. “There’s nary newspaper article saying, ‘Breaking news — this feline didn’t reoffend.’”

In his Saint-Laurent office, Watts keeps a mini lighthouse statue that galore erstwhile students sojourn — a beacon, he says, for those looking for guidance erstwhile life gets rough.

He said he wishes Theologou could person been 1 of them.

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