Former NFL WR Tommy Kane ordered to pay his kids $590,000 after he killed their mom

Former NFL WR Kane ordered to pay kids

MONTREAL — Former NFL wide receiver Tommy Kane has been ordered to pay $590,000 to his children and their guardian for the pain and suffering he’s caused.

Kane is serving an 18-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter in November 2003 stabbing death of Tamara Shaikh.

When their 35-year-old mother was killed, the four children, a girl and three boys, ranged in age from three to nine years old.

Ava Shaikh, the woman’s sister, was granted legal custody of the children and she filed a $1.2-million lawsuit, citing pain and suffering.

Kane played for the Seattle Seahawks between 1988 and 1992. He finished his football career in the CFL, playing five games for the Toronto Argonauts in 1994.

The verdict by Quebec Superior Court Justice Clement Gascon was rendered in May, and was first reported this week by Montreal radio station CJAD.

In his decision, Gascon called it a brutal homicide. He noted that Shaikh’s death was not instantaneous and that Kane had to reach twice for different knives.

Kane did not contest the demand for payment, but his attorney sought to have the sum lowered.

A sum of $171,000 was also transferred to Ava Shaikh from the sale of the former family residence registered under Kane’s name.

Two psychiatric reports detailing Kane’s bout with depression convinced the Crown to downgrade the original charge of second-degree murder.