Teen who killed sister and friend in a crash 'devastated' by her actions, judge hears
CBC
A teenager who crashed a BMW SUV while driving 190 km/h, causing the deaths of her sister and a friend, was sentenced Tuesday during an emotional hearing that saw many in the courtroom, including the judge and lawyers, struggle to contain their emotions.
The girl, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident, will spend two years on probation under conditions that include community service. She is also prohibited from driving for five years.
Court heard that four teens were in the car the night of the fatal rollover: the two sisters and two friends.
Now 19, the driver can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act because she was a youth at the time of the incident. For that reason, none of the victims can be identified.
On Tuesday, dozens of people gathered in a Calgary courtroom for the girl's sentencing hearing after she pleaded guilty last December to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing injury.
Ten victim impact statements were read aloud — including ones written by the sisters' father, the surviving friend, and the parents of the friend who was killed.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Indra Maharaj accepted the joint submission from prosecutor Ron Simenik and defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli and called the situation a "tragedy."
"No one could be unmoved by the statements made today," said the judge, her voice shaking.
"I am also human."
On the night of the crash, the four teenage girls were in the SUV: the 16-year-old driver, her 17-year-old sister and two friends who were also 17 years old.
Details of the incident come from an agreed statement of facts filed as part of the driver's guilty plea.
On July 14, 2021, the Springbank teenagers were at a field party in Calgary's northwest.
Originally, the older sister drove the group to the party, but she had drinks. So a decision was made for the 16-year-old to drive everyone home.
The younger teen did not have her licence.
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