'Finish your term': Teen driver who killed 2 Vaughan children given job before sentence complete

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 27, 2023

It was a crime that shocked and angered the community and the wider country.

Two children in Vaughan, Anaya and Jax Chaudhari, aged 10 and four, were killed by a young teenager who lost control of his father's high-end Mercedes while driving dangerously at 102 km/h in a 40 km/h zone.

The youngsters, who were playing in their Athabasca Drive driveway on that fateful day, really didn't have a chance.

In April 2022, the young offender, who is only known by CZ, was sentenced to a year in an open custody youth facility along with six months under community supervision for two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

Now, two months before he's set to be released from that facility, he has been granted the ability to leave the facility to work at a part-time job, for which he will receive paid compensation.

It has left some frustrated by the decision.

Vaughan Coun. Marilyn Iafrate questioned why, after a judge spent so long considering an appropriate sentence, those working on rehabilitation would decide the teen should be free to get employment.

"Yes, we want to rehabilitate, but couldn't he have looked for a job later, couldn't this have waited?" she questioned to Yorkregion.com. "There's got to be respect of the court's decision ... instead of creating this situation where people lose faith in the system. They are not doing anyone any favours."

In response to questions about why CZ has been given these privileges at this time, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Children Community and Social Services said it cannot comment on the specifics of the case.

"We expect public safety to be a top priority in case management decisions and would refer you to the court for specific sentencing decisions," a spokesperson wrote in response to queries.

It has left Jax and Anaya's mother, Binta Patel, outraged. She told Global News that she believes it's wrong.

"Why is this being offered to him after he’s caused so much devastation to our family?” she said. “We are the ones that are left to deal with the consequences of his mistakes and it seems like he’s just getting rewarded, being able to go out and work while he’s serving a custodial sentence."

CZ, who had his beginner’s permit at the time, was also given one-year probation and a six-year driving ban. His identity is protected due to his young age as a result of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.