Nick Berto found guilty on all counts (updated)

A visibly upset Nicholas Berto reached for a Kleenex and wiped at his eyes after being  found guilty tonight of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and failing to stop to offer assistance to Paul VanderGriendt.

The nine-man, three-woman jury took five hours and 41 minutes to reach its verdict, working through a lengthy list of legal tests provided by Justice Annalisa Rasaiah.

The jury rejected Berto's claim that he acted in self-defence when he ran over VanderGriendt in the early-morning hours of March 12, 2016 at Pine Plaza.

Berto admitted he didn't check to see whether anyone was in his path as he left the parking lot, but said he feared an angry crowd outside The Harp Bar and Grill might try to punch him through his driver-side window.

In her instructions to jurors, Judge Rasaiah warned that it wasn't their job to punish Berto, only to determine his guilt or innocence.

Determining an appropriate punishment is the judge's responsibility, Rasaiah said.

A further hearing has been scheduled for June 6 to initiate a sentencing process for Berto.

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