Convicted man thanks judge seven years after sentence

Seven years ago, Maxwell Beech was convicted of gun- and drug-related charges. Thanks to a "lengthy and violent juvenile record," he stood before Senior Judge Hugh Atwood in a Brampton, Ontario courthouse, facing up to 7 years behind bars.

Instead, Atwood showed Beech mercy, sentencing him to just 90 days — to be served on weekends so Beech could raise his young son, Immanuel, during the week.

Beech didn't take the lenient sentence for granted: "This man gave me another shot. Another opportunity at life."

"This guy is probably the best judge in the country," said Gary Batasar, Beech's former defence lawyer. "He personifies grace. He personifies what a judge should be."

This Tuesday, Beech returned to that courtroom to thank Atwood.

"He told the judge about his life, how he runs his own business installing blinds and home security systems. He told him he'd been a good father, how he'd been able to raise his son, now 8, to watch him grow up. He just wanted to say thanks, he said. To tell the judge he'd made the right decision," The Toronto Star reported.

"King Solomon couldn't have adjudicated better," Beech said in a speech that brought the judge — and everyone in the room — to tears.

The judge said "it was the best thing anyone had ever said to him."