The University of British Columbia law school is experiencing an intense debate over the expected return of one of its students, who took a leave of absence five years ago. Such leaves are not uncommon, but the reason is. Sasan Ansari, 32, served two years in jail for the killing of Josh Goos in November 2008 after stabbing Goos 33 times outside the upscale club.
Ansari used his return to law school as a basis for an extension of his parole in the case and will now assume his studies. He had already completed two years before his conviction in 2008.
The Goos family is joined in their outrage over the re-admission but one of the school’s donors, Govin Roopra, who wrote them a letter to say that he was “staggered” to learn that Ansari received his $1,000 scholarship – while awaiting trial for the killing.
Mary Anne Bobinski, Dean of UBC’s Faculty of Law, insists that there is nothing that the law school can do about the re-admission because the university “generally does not investigate or assess its students’ personal lives and has no legal basis on which to prevent students with criminal records from attending UBC Law.”
He would still have to pass the character and fitness requirements before becoming a practicing attorney — no small feat with a manslaughter conviction of such gruesome dimensions. However, a criminal conviction is not necessary a bar. I had a woman in one class who had a bank robbery conviction and she was a terrific student and person. She had turned her life around and showed considerable character and strength in doing so.
In this case, the student is likely to argue that it was manslaughter and the light sentence would suggest mitigating circumstances. However, a violent killing of this kind would present a difficult question for any bar.
Source: VancouverSun
Frankly
1, September 1, 2011 at 7:26 am
Hey, when this guy deposes a witness he really deposes the witness!
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Don’t you mean disposes …. 🙂
I do not know what the big deal is. It is not his fault that that guy ran into his knife 33 times. Sarcasm off. Now can someone tell me how the hell this qualified as manslaughter? What is up with the Brits?
Bob,
Apparently not…character assassination is always in vogue….
“But from stabbing people to death, it is something of a leap.” Bob Hardin
Apparently not in 2011…
From bank robbery to lawyering is not a big career move. But from stabbing people to death, it is something of a leap.
Yep, something’s amiss… I’ll say it again… He apparently has some powerful connections, as indicated in my previous comment.
(GH, Check your mail.)
Some years back there was a bit of a dust-up in Arizona because James Hamm, who had been convicted of murder, was admitted to a state law school. The conventional wisdom was that Mr. Hamm was fully rehabilitated, but he was denied admission to the State Bar. The Az SC found that he had not been forthright in the application process with respect to his child support obligation. Consequently, the Court upheld the decision to deny admission and it did not actually address whether or not he was rehabilitated. (To be clear, by most accounts Mr. Hamm serves as an example of rehabilitation and redemption.)
Soon after that case was decided, the Court upheld the denial of admission of another man (whose name escapes me) who had also committed a murder. In the second case, the man had been practicing in Texas for a number of years before applying for admission in Az. In either a dissent or a concurrence, one Justice wrote that the Court should just admit that it was adopting a de facto rule that murderers need not apply.
I have to agree with raff. This doesn’t pass the smell test.
W=c:
:=)
This is one crazy case. If he paid his debt, I do believe he deserves a second chance. However something doesn’t smell right.
He’s welcome to come back. He did his time. Sure he killed someone, but at least he isn’t guilty of planking
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/09/01/bowling-green-student-banned-from-campus-for-planking/
Frankly1, September 1, 2011 at 7:26 am
Hey, when this guy deposes a witness he really deposes the witness!
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hahahaha!
well, at least he wasn’t planking…..
He’s “connected”, it would seem…. ( refer to http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/story.html?id=f3c44f76-4a4e-483d-a80a-5f1bb6585d18, as well as excerpt below )
1) He’s already been offered a job at a law firm, according to the Vancouver Sun article:
“The board did not give any details of that employment, although earlier decisions made note that Ansari had been offered a job at a law firm.”
2) His brother has an interesting history, as well…
3) I’m wondering about his lifespan, especially if he doesn’t toe the line in his circle…
Excerpt:
According to his testimony, he had met Goos at Hollyburn to discuss the payment of returns on a $90,000 loan that Goos had made to him some months earlier.
Ansari said Goos was expecting returns in the range of $250,000, and he was anxious to receive payment.
At the time, Ansari was experimenting with commodities trading, and was negotiating with buyers in the Middle East and sugar suppliers in Brazil. He said he expected to turn a large profit from the deal, and had promised to pay Goos $250,000 if the deal went through.
Ansari testified that during their May 22 meeting, he and Goos went for a walk outside the club. Goos told him that he was involved in the drug trade in Los Angeles. He was living in the notorious Compton ghetto at the time, where he said he “took care of” at least one known gangster, Ansari testified. (end excerpt)
Excerpt 2:
Ansari’s brother, Soroush Ansari – who was a character witness at Sasan Ansari’s trial – was also released from prison on $250,000 bail in January after two years behind bars.
Soroush Ansari, an alleged associate of the UN gang, is charged with counselling another alleged gang member, Barzan Tilli-Choli, to shoot at someone with an intent to endanger that person’s life on Jan. 24, 2009. The drive-by shooting is thought to be part of a gang turf war between the UN and the rival Red Scorpions. (end Excerpt 2)
Would he eligible for licensure?
enioboob,
The law schools want the money….what keeps some people from passing the C&F part is failure to disclose….
““generally does not investigate or assess its students’ personal lives and has no legal basis on which to prevent students with criminal records from attending UBC Law.” WHAT?????
“He would still have to pass the character and fitness requirements before becoming a practicing attorney — no small feat with a manslaughter conviction ” YOU THINK?????
sub…
I wonder how safe the First Year faulty feels….warm and fuzzy, I am sure….
You have to figure the light sentence despite the violent nature of the manslaughter suggests the guy deserves a 2nd chance.
Hey, when this guy deposes a witness he really deposes the witness!